Households in Northern Ireland could be eligible for five Cost of Living Payments next month.
The Department of Work and Pensions has announced that the first £301 Cost of Living Payment is due to be paid between April 25, 2023 and May 17, 2023 for those on certain means tested benefits.
It is part of a £900 payment that will be made in three installments this year.
Read more: DWP announces Cost of Living Spring payment dates
A £150 Disability Payment is due during Summer 2023.
The second £300 low-income (means-tested) Cost of Living Payment is due during Autumn 2023.
A £300 additional Winter Fuel Payment is due during Winter 2023/24.
The third £299 low-income (means tested) Cost of Living Payment is due during Spring 2024.
Some claimants may be eligible to receive five Cost of Living Payments if you are in receipt of certain benefits or tax credits.
Households will not need to apply for these and will be paid automatically to those who are eligible, including if they are found to be so at a later date.
However, you will not be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if your benefit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying period.
This is known as a 'nil award' and can take place if, for example, someone on Universal Credit gets more than one payment of earnings, their or their partner's earnings go up or you start to receive another form of benefit.
If you receive a Cost of Living Payment and the DWP later finds you were not eligible for it, you could be asked to repay it.
The assessment period to determine whether someone is eligible for the first payments ended in the period of 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.
Eligibility for 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
The payment will be made separately from your benefit.
You will not get a payment if you are only getting New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance.
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 are eligible.
You can find out more HERE.
Disability benefits
You may get a lump sum payment of £150 if you get any of the following on a certain date:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
If you get more than one of these disability benefits, only one Disability Cost of Living Payment is payable.
Most people will be paid the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment during summer 2023.
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
If you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024, you will get an extra £150 or £300 paid with your normal payment from November 2023.
The full amount of Winter Fuel Payment (including the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment) you will get for winter 2023 to 2024 depends on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying dates.
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024 if you were born before 24 September 1957.
You will be sent a letter in October or November 2023 telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you will get if you are eligible.
For more information, CLICK HERE.
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