Millions of people on benefits are due a £326 cost of living payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) from this month.
In June, the DWP confirmed more than eight million low income households across the UK would receive £650 in financial aid to help with mounting living costs, with the payment to be split into two instalments. Eligible claimants, it said, would receive the first £326 from July 14.
A further £324 is then expected later in the year.
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However, the DWP has more recently explained that payments are being staggered due to the high number of people entitled to the support. It also advised that there “may be potential delays for a small minority of cases due to their unique characteristics”, according to the Daily Record.
DWP Minister, David Rutley MP, said: “Due to the volume of people entitled to the payment, it is not possible to issue all of the Cost of Living Support Payments at the same time. Issuing payments will be staggered, but not by benefit type, starting on July 14, 2022.”
He added: “We currently expect the majority of payments to be made by the end of July, there may be potential delays for a small minority of cases due to their unique characteristics.” Mr Rutley did not give any further details on who may be affected.
Qualifying benefits for the £326 payment
You may get a payment of £326 paid into your account from July 14 if you’re getting any of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credits - see further down for full details
- Child Tax Credits - See further down for full details
Eligibility for £326 payment
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either:
- Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022
- Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022
You will not be eligible for a payment if you get:
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance
- New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, unless you get Universal Credit
£326 payment if you get Tax Credits
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Eligibility for £326 payment
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have received a payment, or an annual award of at least £26, of Tax Credits on any day in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022.
If you get both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive a Cost of Living Payment for Child Tax Credit only.
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