Her Majesty's Revenue Customs (HMRC) has confirmed the exact month that Tax Credit households will be given their first half of the £650 cost of living payment.
The first of a two part payment is worth £326, and is due to be paid to eligible recipients of Tax Credits in September.
However, the organisation hasn’t yet confirmed the exact day in September from which the payments will start flooding in, nor have they announced when the second payment, worth £324, will arrive.
Read more: DWP cost of living payment: Why you may not have your received your money yet
The Mirror reports that this is expected to be sometime over the winter.
Around 1.5million people claim Tax Credits in the UK. The payment for these households comes after the first £326 cost of living instalment was sent to those claiming other types of means-tested benefits like Universal Credit, income-related ESA and JSA, Income Support, and Pension Credit.
Those in receipt of these benefits began receiving their cost of living payments from July 14, with a second instalment due for Autumn - although again, no set date has been announced as of yet.
Who is eligible for the £650 cost of living payment?
The £650 payment is only being awarded to more than eight million households who claim the following benefits:
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Child Tax Credit
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Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
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Income Support
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Pension Credit
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Universal Credit
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Working Tax Credit
To get the full £650, you need to have qualified for one of these benefits - or later found to be entitled to a payment - between April 26 and May 25. Pension Credit applications can be backdated for three months, so August 18 is the cut-off for this benefit.
I'm not eligible for the £650 - what help can I get?
Not everyone who claims benefits will be entitled to the £650 payment - so it is worth checking what other support you can get. There is a £150 payment being made to those who claim certain disability benefits and £300 for pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments.
Every home in England, Scotland and Wales will also receive £400 off their energy bills, spread out over six months from October. This money is applied to your energy bills and doesn’t need to be paid.
This is in replacement of the £200 "loan-not-loan" that had originally been announced last year by the Chancellor. The Household Support Fund has also been extended again by another £500million.
You need to speak to your council to see what help it offers and if you’re eligible for support.
Read next:
- Three cost of living scams to watch out for from fake DWP texts to Ofgem rebate
- Full list of people who WON'T get the £650 cost of living payment and the help they CAN get
- Cost of living: Struggling families are targeted by fast loan scam
- Ditching meat to save money could end up costing you more
- British Gas reopens hardship fund and you don't need to be a customer to apply
