Cost of living payments are being made to households across the UK to help them cope with rising bills and prices. Most of the payments will be made throughout the remainder of the year.
Numerous different payments are available but only some households will qualify for them depending on personal circumstances. Some - but not all - will have already received the first instalment of their £650 cost of living payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Other financial assistance includes the £150 disability cost of living payment, a £400 energy bill discount and pensioners' Winter Fuel Payment will be bolstered by an extra £300. As reported by the Daily Record, below is a clear breakdown of who qualifies for each payment and when they are due:
Who is eligible for each cost of living payment?
Three separate cost of living payments are available. Some people may qualify for all three.
£650 Cost of Living Payment
People who claim specific means-tested benefits or Tax Credits are eligible for this. It is paid in two one-off instalments but a couple will only qualify for one payment between them.
£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment
People who claim a qualifying disability benefit are eligible.
£300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
Those eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this year will receive the extra funds. A couple would only qualify for one payment between them.
July and autumn - £650 means-tested cost of living payment
A majority (more than 7.2 million households) of those who qualify will have already received their first £326 instalment. However, there may be a delay on some of the more complicated claims.
Pensioners who began a new claim for Pension Credit before August 18 that is later successful will be eligible for the full £650 payment. This is because the benefit can be backdated for three months, putting it in the May qualifying period.
Qualifying benefits and Tax Credits
People who claim any of the following may qualify:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
September - £150 disability cost of living payment
Eligibility will depend on if people were claiming any (or started a claim that was later approved) of the following on May 25:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
October - £400 energy rebate
All households UK-wide with a domestic electricity connection will receive a £400 energy discount. There is no need to apply because it will be issued automatically.
How will I receive the discount?
Energy providers will issue the discount in six instalments starting in October, as follows:
- October - £66
- November - £66
- December - £67
- January - £67
- February - £67
- March - £67
If the first discount has not been applied by the end of October then customers should contact their supplier.
November/December - £300 pensioner cost of living payment
An extra one-off £300 will be added to the Winter Fuel Payment of every qualifying pensioner household this November/December. To qualify, people will need to be at or above the State Pension age during the qualifying week of 19-25 September 2022 and receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
Who does not qualify for the £300 payment?
There are some eligibility exceptions for the Winter Fuel Payment. Find out more by visiting GOV.UK here
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