The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that some 7.3 million payments of £324 have now been made to low-income families across the country as part of the UK Government’s £37 billion cost of living support package.
The latest figures from DWP show that £2.3 billion has been paid out to over 99% of all eligible claimants across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the rollout began on November 8. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has also now completed issuing payments to over one million people in receipt of Tax Credits-only.
However, for those still waiting on the second wave of support, DWP has updated its dedicated Cost of Living page on GOV.UK to allow people on Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support or Pension Credit to report a missing £324 payment.
People on Tax Credits-only will be able to report the missing payment directly to HMRC from Wednesday, December 7.
The "vast majority" of eligible claimants should have received their second cost of living payment by the end of November, but payments may have been delayed if there was an issue with the paying-in account or if their claim is still being processed.
The advice from DWP is that anyone in receipt of a qualifying benefit who believes they should have received the second Cost of Living Payment but has not, should report it missing to DWP.
Before reporting a missing payment, DWP suggests that you check your bank, building society or credit union account, or your Payment Exception Service voucher receipt.
It adds: “Do not report the same missing payment more than once. We will reply to you as soon as we can.”
You can report a missing £324 payment online here.
Benefits that do not qualify for £324 cost of living payment
You will not get a payment if you get New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, unless you get Universal Credit.
Qualifying period for £3324 cost of living payment
Universal Credit
You will be eligible for the second Cost of Living Payment of £324 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 August 26 2022 to September 25 2022.
Universal Credit ‘nil awards’
DWP guidance states that you will not be eligible for the second cost of living payment if your earnings reduced your Universal Credit to £0 for the qualifying assessment period - this is sometimes called a ‘nil award’.
If money has also 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.
Income-based JSA, income-based ESA, Income Support and Pension Credit
You will be eligible for the second Cost of Living Payment of £324 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 August 26 2022 to September 25 2022.
New claims for Pension Credit
People of State Pension age making a new claim for Pension Credit, worth on average £3,500 each year, will still qualify for the second payment as long as their application is received on or before December 18, 2022.
Pension Credit is a retrospective benefit, which means it can be backdated to three months - falling within the September 25 cut-off qualifying period.
Find out more about claiming Pension Credit here.
Eligibility for £324 Tax Credits-only cost of living payment
This was paid into over one million bank accounts between November 23 and 30.
You will be eligible for the second cost of living payment of £324 if you received, or later receive, for any day in the period August 26, 2022 to September 25, 2022 either:
- a payment of Tax Credits for the tax year 2022 to 2023
- an annual award of at least £26 of Tax Credits for the tax year 2022 to 2023
Key points to know about the HMRC payment
If you get both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive a cost of living payment for Child Tax Credit only.
If you get Tax Credits from HMRC and a low income benefit from the DWP, you should have been paid a cost of living payment from DWP by November 23.
If you had a joint claim between August 26 and September 25, 2022, a single payment of £324 will be sent using the same payment method used between these dates, if you’re eligible.
Your payment might come later, for example if you are awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you change the account your benefit or tax credits are paid into.
Full details of the second payment and all cost of living support can be found on GOV.UK here.
To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.
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