Millions of households across the UK are set to receive extra cost of living payments after the Government confirmed that extra support will be made available to the most vulnerable.
The news was confirmed in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statemen t, as part of a package of measures aimed at helping households through the cost of living crisis - including Universal Credit and the State Pension rising in line with inflation. This means that you could automatically receive up to £900 tax-free cash in 2023-24 depending on your circumstances.
The Government has confirmed who is eligible for the three additional payments on its website, which are aimed at helping people on certain benefits, pensioners, and disabled people with their bills. Here's what you need to know about the new payments and who qualifies for them.
READ MORE: DWP Universal Credit payments to rise 10.1% in April 2023 - see how much you'll get
Am I eligible for the £900 payment?
You will be eligible for the £900 cost of living payment if you are one of the eight million households in the UK who receive one of the following DWP benefit payments:
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
The payment will be made in more than one instalment, and DWP and HMRC have said that they will provide further details on payment dates "in due course". The payment will be tax-free, not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.
What other cost of living payments are available?
New £300 payment for pensioners
Over eight million pensioner households across the UK will receive an additional £300 cost of living payment in 2023-24 to help with rising bills. Again, DWP has said that it will provide details on when this will be paid "in due course", but the payments will be tax-free and won't impact existing benefit awards.
New £150 payment for people on disability benefits
More than six million people who are on non-means-tested disability benefits will also get an extra cost of living payment of £150 in 2023-24. If you are eligible for both this and the additional pensioner cost of living payment, you will receive both.
This includes everyone who is eligible for:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Scottish Disability Benefits
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Assuming these payments will work in the same way as the previous ones, if you qualify for one or more of these cost of living payments then the money will be paid to you automatically in the same way that you usually receive your benefits and you will not need to apply. Be aware of phone calls, text messages or emails encouraging you to apply for cost of living payments, as these are likely to be a scam.
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