The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging people set to receive their second cost of living support money this month of one important detail about the payment. The government department has so far processed 4.8 million cost of living payments since it began rolling out he the second instalment on Tuesday (Nov 8).
People claiming means-tested benefits are eligible for the sum, worth £324, and will have already received the first £326 earlier this year. Around eight million people are due to see the funds land in their bank accounts by November 23 at the latest.
However, numerous people have raised concerns as they have not yet been given the money they so crucially need, with some noting that the their first half came to them on the very first day it was released, according to the Daily Post. But the DWP has stressed that the money will come to those who haven't seen it yet - they just need to wait a bit longer.
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The government body has also reminded people of one important factor during the course of its payment schedule - no payments are made on weekends, it is Monday to Friday only. So if your payment does not arrive today, it could be next week, with no need to contact DWP nor believe that it won't come or has gone missing.
The DWP has also previously said it is staggering payments - in no particular order - due to the sheer volume of transactions being processed. Other details worth remembered for people waiting for the support include:
- If you received the first payment in July and your circumstances have not changed, you will receive the £324 payment before November 23
- If your circumstances have changed, or you’re a new claimant, or your benefit claim is going through the appeals process, your payment may arrive after the payment window closes on November 23
Nobody needs to apply for the second cost of living payment as it will be made automatically to eligible claimants
People claiming Tax Credits will receive the payment from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) between November 23 and 30
Meanwhile, the £324 for people on tax credits will be paid between 23 and 30 November 2022 for most. The DWP estimates that by the end of November over 90 per cent of recipients of the second payment will also have received the first payment of £326.
Earlier this week, the DWP clarified that people will not be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if their Universal Credit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying assessment period. In a statement, it said: "This is sometimes called a ‘nil award’. Reasons your Universal Credit may be reduced to £0 for an assessment period 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."
Who is eligible for the £324 payment?
You may get a payment of £324 if you get payments of any of the following: Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, Pension Credit and Tax Credits. Tax Credits must be claimed alongside one other DWP benefit in this list otherwise the payment will be made later from HMRC.
The payment will be made separately to your benefit. If you have a joint claim with a partner, you will get one payment of £324 for your joint claim, if you’re entitled. Full details can be found on GOV.UK here.
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