More than six million people will receive extra cash from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) from today (June 20).
One-off payments of £150 will be issued during a two-week window to support people with the extra costs they face amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. The payments are part of a wider package of support worth up to £1,350 to the most vulnerable households.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: "We recognise that some of the most vulnerable UK households continue to face cost-of-living pressures, in particular those who are disabled. Our commitment to halving inflation and ultimately getting it back to the 2% target will relieve a lot of financial pressure for us all, but this extra support will help over six million disabled people right now as we work towards that goal."
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As the payment is made automatically, those eligible for the support do not need to take any action. The payment reference on bank statements will appear as the person's national insurance number, followed by "DWP COL".
Those expecting a payment should watch out for scammers, who will use events such as cost-of-living payments to try to trick people into handing over personal details or money.
People who may qualify for the payments being made between June 20 and July 4 include those on disability living allowance, personal independence payments, attendance allowance, Scottish disability benefits (adult disability payment and child disability payment), armed forces independence payments, constant attendance allowance and war pension mobility supplement.
The DWP said a small number of payments will be made after July 4, where claimants were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility or entitlement to qualifying disability benefits on April 1. The new payment is in addition to the £150 disability cost-of-living payment that was paid last September.
Louise Rubin, head of policy at disability charity Scope, said: "This £150 disability cost-of-living payment offered to people on disability benefits won't touch the sides. We've heard from disabled people whose bills have risen to £6,000 a year.
"Parents are skipping meals so their children can eat. Others are going without food to power breathing equipment.
"We need a long-term solution. The Government urgently needs to introduce a discounted social energy tariff for disabled people with no choice but to use more energy."
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