Millions of claimants on Universal Credit and other benefits will get £326 payments from today to help with the soaring cost of living - but many face delays.
The cash will be paid out to 8.4million households from July 14, and is the first half of a £650 Government cost of living payment.
You will need to be on means-tested benefits to get the £650 payments.
If you are on these benefits you are in line for the £650:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
If you do not get the £326 today, the Government says to hold fire until the end of July before taking action.
The Government will be making the payments throughout July, and if you're unlucky you might get yours towards the end of the month.
If you don't get it by July 31, you should contact the office through which your benefit is paid.
Also, while most people on these benefits will get their £650 this month, some will get it later in the year.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said a small number of claimants will not get the cash in January because their cases are tricky to handle.
This can happen if you have had big change to your circumstances over the past year as a claimant.
If you are on Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, you will also not get the £326 payment by July 31.
Instead you will get one payment from Autumn 2022 and a second payment from Winter 2022.
That is because Tax Credits are being phased out and replaced by Universal Credit.
The Government does not want to pay someone on Tax Credits £650 then accidentally pay them again once they swap to Universal Credit.
I'm not eligible for the £650 - what help can I get?
If you claim certain disability benefits, there is a £150 cost of living payment due in September.
Pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments will get an extra £300.
Every home in England, Scotland and Wales will also receive £400 off their energy bills, spread out over six months from October.
Rather than a cash payment, the money will be applied directly to your energy account.
Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account, while those with pre-payment meters will have the money added to their meter or paid via a voucher.
This is in replacement of the £200 "loan-not-loan" that had originally been announced last year by the Chancellor.
Support to people in Northern Ireland has not yet been announced.
Other help is also available through the Household Support Fund, which is being paid out by local councils.
Each local authority decides who to give the money to, and how the money should be spent - so you may face a postcode lottery in terms of the help available to you.
The help on offer does vary, but can include cash grants and supermarket vouchers.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak extended the Household Support Fund as part of a wider £15billion package to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Speak to your council to see what help it offers and if you’re eligible for support.
