The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) started dropping one-off payments for £326 into bank accounts of benefit claimants across the country on July 14. The cash is the first instalment of the means-tested £650 cost of living payment which is being made to more than 8 million households this year.
However, many claimants who have not yet received the financial support, intended to help mitigate the rising cost of living, may not be aware that payments are being staggered due to the high number of people entitled to the support - not by benefit type - and will continue until the end of the month. DWP expects all payments for £326 to be made by July 31.
People who claim both a means-tested qualifying benefit and Tax Credits from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), will receive the £326 from DWP, however, those who only claim Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits will get the first of their two payments later this year - an autumn date has still to be announced.
Earlier this month, DWP Minister, David Rutley MP, explained that there may be “potential delays for a small minority of cases due to their unique characteristics”.
He said: “Due to the volume of people entitled to the payment, it is not possible to issue all of the Cost of Living Support Payments at the same time. Issuing payments will be staggered, but not by benefit type, starting on July 14, 2022.
“We currently expect the majority of payments to be made by the end of July, there may be potential delays for a small minority of cases due to their unique characteristics.”
What to do if you don’t receive the payment
If it’s important to ensure that you do qualify for the £326 payment in the first place.
In the UK Government’s Cost of Living Payment guidance on GOV.UK, it also states that a computer program has been used to identify eligible claimants.
It states: “DWP and HMRC are using a computer program to identify those eligible to receive a Cost of Living Payment. If you are not content with this you can contact the office that pays your benefit or Tax Credits to discuss it.”
You can find the telephone number for your local Jobcentre Plus on the GOV.UK website, here.
Qualifying benefits for the £326 payment
You may get a payment of £326 paid into your account from July 14 if you’re getting any of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credits - see further down for full details
- Child Tax Credits - See further down for full details
Eligibility for £326 payment
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either:
- Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022
- Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022
You will not be eligible for a payment if you get:
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance
- New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, unless you get Universal Credit
£326 payment if you get Tax Credits
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Eligibility for £326 payment
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have received a payment, or an annual award of at least £26, of Tax Credits on any day in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022.
If you get both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive a Cost of Living Payment for Child Tax Credit only.
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