The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed the payment schedule for the next wave of cost of living support worth up to £1,350 for those on a low-income, people claiming disability benefits and pensioner households. Payments worth £150, £300 and £900 will be made during the course of the new financial year, with the first payment of £301 due between April 15 and May 17, 2023.
The new package of support is worth £26 billion during 2023/24, in addition to the benefits uprating, which is worth £11 billion to working age households and people claiming their State Pension entitlement. This means more than eight million pensioner households across Scotland, England and Wales will be supported by additional cost of living payments.
In fact, eligible people of State Pension age could receive up to £1,051 before the end of this year and a further £299 in early 2024 - a total of £1,350 in extra financial support.
Below is a breakdown of cost of living payments, specifically, how older people can get them, eligibility and when they are expected to arrive.
£900 cost of living payment
This payment is for those on means-tested benefits, which includes Pension Credit.
DWP is urging older people to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit in this year’s annual State Pension uprating letter. It contains updated information about the benefit and how to claim - it is estimated that 850,000 pensioners are eligible, but not claiming. The Department has also launched a new TV advertising campaign to urge older people, family members and friends to check they or someone they know isn't missing out on crucial support.
The benefit is worth, on average, over £3,500 each year and acts as a passport to other support including help with housing, heating and Council Tax costs.
An award for just one penny will be enough to qualify for the £900 cost of living payment.
These will be paid as follows:
- £301 - between April 25 and May 17, 2023
- £300 - Autumn 2023
- £299 - Spring 2024
The qualifying period for the £301 payment is between January 26 and February 25, 2023. This means that anyone who makes a new claim for Pension Credit before May 19, 2023 which later turns out to be successful will receive the £301 payment along with benefit arrears. This is because Pension Credit is a retrospective benefit that can be backdated by up to three months, taking it to within the qualifying period.
People can quickly check their eligibility for Pension Credit using the online calculator here or by calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234. Find out more about claiming Pension Credit on GOV.UK here.
£150 disability cost of living payment
The one-off payment of £150 will be made this summer. No qualifying period has been announced yet and no exact payment window has been released, but DWP said these will be given closer to the time.
If you are in receipt of any of these benefits, you will qualify for the support:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
If you have never claimed PIP before reaching State Pension age, but have a long-term health condition or disability such as arthritis, joint pain or respiratory issues, you may be eligible for Attendance Allowance.
This benefit helps with extra costs if you have a condition that makes it hard for you to look after yourself - it does not cover mobility needs and you do not need to have someone caring for you in order to make a claim.
Attendance Allowance currently helps nearly 1.4 million people across the UK, including 123,786 living in Scotland, with daily living expenses and can help them stay independent in their own home for longer.
Find out more about Attendance Allowance, including conditions and how to claim, here.
£300 pensioner cost of living payment
This one-off lump sum will be added to the annual Winter Fuel Payment which is usually paid between November and January.
To be eligible for the 2023/24 Winter Fuel Payment, you must have been born on or before September 24, 1957 and lived in the UK for at least one day during the qualifying week - typically, the last full week in September. You can find out more about the 2022/23 Winter Fuel Payments on GOV.UK here.
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