New data shows how many North East households will receive payments aimed to support struggling families amid the cost of living crisis.
Millions of households across the country are eligible will get their first payment in the next month as part of three instalments totalling £900. It is payable to those who are on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and older benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support.
Thousands of eligible families are living in the North East, including over 40,000 living in Newcastle. To see how many families are eligible in each area across the country, see our interactive map below.
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says people can expect the first £301 payment to land automatically in their bank accounts between Tuesday, April 25 and Wednesday, May 17. There will then be a second cost of living payment of £300 in the autumn and a third payment of £300 will be paid in spring next year.
In order to be considered eligible for the first cost of living payment, you must have received an eligible means-tested benefit payment between January 26 and February 25, 2023.
Data shows that County Durham is the area in the North East with the most household eligible for the payment, totalling 76,700. While Sunderland has the second highest, totalling 47,300.
In Newcastle the figure is 44,000 and 36,800 in Northumberland. The data also shows that the number of eligible households is 30,300 in Gateshead, 26,900 in North Tyneside and 25,800 in South Tyneside.
Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “These payments will give a financial boost to more than eight million households as we continue to wrap our arms around the most vulnerable, while the best way we can protect people from high costs is to halve inflation by the end of this year.
“In the long-term, we know work is the best route out of poverty, which is why we recently announced additional Work Coach support to help more people find work or increase their hours. Anyone looking to boost their skills or progress their career should speak to their work coach to ensure they’re accessing all the support the DWP can provide.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, added: “Not only are we providing £900 in direct cash payments to millions of the most vulnerable households, we’ve also extended the energy price guarantee to hold bills down until energy prices fall, raised the national living wage to £10.42, put an end to the prepayment meter premium and delivered a plan that will more than halve inflation this year – ensuring everyone’s incomes go further.”
An interactive map has now been released to show the areas where people will benefit from the payment.
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