TV money saving expert Martin Lewis has taken to social media with some ‘hard comments’ about the government's cost of living payment support scheme, which first dates have been announced today (March 27). Mr Lewis spoke out after people took aim at those who are receiving the first £301 payment from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
The DWP today confirmed that many people on benefits including Universal Credit will receive the money, which is aimed at helping the poorest in society survive the cost of living crisis. It comes as inflation has seen prices of essential items like food, fuel and power soar.
Mr Lewis spoke out after some criticised the awards - and he said it’s not about criticising others, and reminded his audience on Twitter that many people on Universal Credit work. He said: “A few hard comments about the benefits cost of living payments. Remember 40% of people on UC work. Many who don’t are due to disability, illness, caring responsibility.
Read more: DWP confirms date first £301 cost of living payment will start to land in bank accounts
“Some in the middle need help too (why I campaigned for energy price not to rise) but don’t make it ‘us v em’.” His remarks won approval from many.
Chris Griffiths said: “People need to remember that it doesn’t take much to go wrong in one’s life to end up in a dire situation where help needed just to get by.” Pranay Manocha added: “That so many people in work still need UC goes to show how our taxes are indirectly feeding profits at companies that refuse to pay their employees a decent wage. This is a major economic issue that increases inequality and undoubtedly has a significant social impact.”
Mark Mack replied: “I agree, but please remember that politicians have been talking about the “squeezed middle” for decades, yet not really done anything. That middle is getting smaller and smaller.”
Earlier Martin had spoken about the date being announced by the DWP for the first of three payments which will add up to £900 being paid. The first instalment of the government’s 2023 cost of living payments - worth £301 - has now been announced. For those eligible, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the amount will be given out between April 25 and May 17.
The lump sum forms the first of three payments - £301, £300 and £299 - the government will be making as part of its £900 support package for means-tested benefits claimants. There will also be an additional £150 going out to people on disability benefits, on top of £300 for pensioners.
£301 Cost of Living Payment eligibility
Universal Credit:
You are eligible for the first cost of living payment of £301 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.
You are eligible for the first cost of living payment of £301 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.
You are also eligible if you are entitled to one of these benefits for any day during this period but you do not receive a benefit payment because your entitlement is between one penny and nine pence.
Tax credits:
You are eligible for the first cost of living payment of £301 if you received a payment of tax credits for any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023, or you are later found to have been entitled to a payment for this period.
When you will not be eligible: ‘Nil awards’
You will not be eligible for the cost of living payment if your benefit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying period. This is sometimes called a ‘nil award’. For example, if you get Universal Credit, reasons your benefit may be reduced to £0 include getting more than one payment of earnings, your or your partner’s earnings go up, your or your partner’s savings go up, you start getting another benefit.
If money has been taken off for other reasons (such as payments of rent to your landlord or for money that you owe), you might still be eligible.
Read next:
- Full list of benefits going up from April 2023 – from Universal Credit to state pension
- Ministers 'delay' state pension age rise to 68 – but over 50s must still wait longer for payments
- Single mums need to work until 93 to have as much pension as a man
- DWP State Pension and PIP claimants to receive up to £1,506 a month from April
- DWP State Pension error means thousands could be owed £6,900
