MILLIONS of households on Universal Credit and benefits are in line to receive another cost of living payment later this year.
The cash forms part of the £900 cost of living payment which is designed to help struggling households with essential costs, such as energy and food.
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Over eight million households have already started to receive the first instalment worth £301.
In fact, 1.6million households have already received the cash since yesterday (April 25), according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
However, the same group will also be eligible for another £300 payment in the autumn of 2023.
This will then be followed by a £299 payment in the spring of 2024.
But only those on six types of benefits including Universal Credit can get the free cash.
We’ve explained exactly who’s eligible for the next £300 cost of living payment below.
Who is and isn’t eligible for the cash?
The £900 cost of living payment is designed to help struggling households with essential costs, such as energy and food.
The payment, which is tax-free, has been split into three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299.
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The second and third instalments are set to be paid in the autumn of this year and spring of 2024.
All in all, eight million people will receive the payment.
You’ll be eligible for the payment if you were entitled to the following benefits during a specific time period which the DWP will confirm at a later date:
You’re typically eligible for the first £301 payment if you were entitled to the following benefits between January 26, 2023 and February 25, 2023.
And if you were later found to be entitled to any of the above benefits between January 26 and February 25, you will be eligible for the payment too.
But there are exceptions.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that those receiving a Universal Credit “nil award” during the qualifying period won’t get the free cash.
Other benefits that won’t qualify for the £300 cost of living payment include:
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Child benefit
- Disability living allowance (DLA)
- Contributory, or “new style”, employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Guardian’s allowance
- Contribution-based, or “new style”, jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Maternity allowance
- Personal independence payment
- State pension
- Statutory adoption, maternity, paternity and shared parental pay
- Statutory sick pay
Is there other help for those that aren’t eligible?
Over six million people will receive a £150 disability cost of living payment this summer.
You may be entitled to the payment if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Millions of pensioners will receive a £150 or £300 cost of living payment from November this year too.
You will be eligible for the payment if you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023/24.
Effectively, the cost of living payment will top up your Winter Fuel Payment.
Eligible households will be sent a letter in October or November telling them how much their total payment is.
In some circumstances, you might be eligible for all three cost of living payments.
That means you will get £1,350 free cash from the government.
Beyond the cost of living payments, extra help is coming via the Household Support Fund, which has been extended until March 31, 2024.
The Fund is a central pot of money from the government that is shared between local councils in England.
They then decide who to distribute the money to, and how to.
It can come in the form of a voucher, or a direct cash payment into your bank account.
In most cases, the support is offered to those on a low income or certain benefits.
You should check with your local council if you are eligible for any support.
If you don’t know what council area you fall under, you can use the Government’s council locator on its website.
Meanwhile, here are seven loopholes that could stop you from getting the cost of living payment.
Plus, more information on who will be getting the payments and when.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
