The Department for Work and Pensions is unable to say if the Spring Cost of Living payments will be made before April 1.
The first £301 Cost of Living payment is to be made to people on certain means tested benefits this Spring, however the dates of the payments are yet to be released.
It is part of a £900 payment that will be made in three installments this year.
Read more: DWP to inform claimants of dates prior to Cost of Living payments being made this spring
The DWP has refused to say whether or not the payments will be made to people prior to April 1 and told Belfast Live that a statement regarding the exact dates will be made "in due course".
The DWP has said that some people, who are on certain benefits or tax credits may be able to receive up to five cost of living payments.
You may be entitled to up to 3 Cost of Living Payments of £301, £300 and £299 if you get any of the following benefits or tax credits on certain dates:
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
If you have a joint claim on the qualifying dates, a single payment of £301, £300 and £299 will be sent using the same payment method used between these dates, if you’re eligible.
The department has also warned that you will not be elgible for the payments if your benefit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying period.
It said that an example of this is could be someone on Universal Credit getting more than one payment of earnings or their or their partners earnings increasing during that time.
The DWP also said that there is a possibility that some could receive the automatic payments late.
It said: "Your payment might come later, for example if you’re awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you change the account your benefit or tax credits are paid into. You will still be paid the Cost of Living Payment automatically.
"If you get tax credits, and no other low income benefits, you’ll get your Cost of Living Payment from HMRC shortly after DWP payments are made, if you’re eligible.
"If you are getting both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive a Cost of Living Payment for Child Tax Credit only, which will be paid by HMRC.
"If you are getting tax credits from HMRC and a low income benefit from DWP, you cannot get a cost of Living Payment from both HMRC and DWP. You will usually be paid by DWP only.
"This guidance will be updated with the payment dates before each payment starts."
A Disability Cost of Living payment of £150 will be made in the summer for those receiving the following benefits on a certain date;
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