The Department for Work and Pensions has today published a new online guide about the £1,350 cost of living payments including advice on who will get it - and who will not. The money has been made available by the government to help the neediest people get through the living standards crisis - and to help to pay for soaring power bills.
The money will be paid out in the next 12 months and will mostly go out to people directly based on the benefits they get - so in general there should be no applications necessary. There are a total of five payments going out over the next 12 months or so - and all of them are being made with specific criteria. The DWP warns that if anyone receives a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, it is likely to be a scam.
One of them is the £900 cost of living payment which will be paid in three instalments of £301, £300 and £299. They will be paid in Spring 2023, Autumn 2023 and Spring 2024 - exact dates have not yet been confirmed.
Those eligible are receiving income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and will be automatically paid separately from any benefit.
Ineligible are people getting New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance. If people#s benefits are reduced to £0 during the qualifying period they will also not be eligible (called a nil award). The DWP explained: “For example, if you get Universal Credit, reasons your benefit may be reduced to £0 include getting more than one payment of earnings, your or your partner’s earnings go up, your or your partner’s savings go up, you start getting another benefit.
“If money has been taken off for other reasons (such as payments of rent to your landlord or for money that you owe), you might still be eligible.”
There will also be a Disability Cost of Living Payment in Summer 2023 if you get any of the following benefits on a certain date:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
This guidance will be updated with the qualifying date for the payment when it has been announced.
The Pensioner Cost of Living Payment next winter could see an extra £150 or £300 paid with the normal payment from November 2023. You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024 if you were born before 24 September 1957.
This guidance will be updated with the qualifying dates for the payment when they are published. OAPs will be sent a letter in October or November telling them how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get if you’re eligible. To read the new web guide click here.
READ NEXT:
DWP says time to check whether you are eligible to receive benefit worth £3,500
Santander, Natwest, Barclays, HSBC and Halifax fraud alert issued
DWP urged to introduce new £25 weekly uplift for Universal Credit and legacy benefit claimants
Valuable silverware stolen during break-ins at Nottinghamshire churches
Nottinghamshire couple hit with 'absolute joke' £200 parking fine
