MILLIONS of households are set to receive a £301 cost of living payment this spring, but some will miss out.
Those on certain benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Income support will get £900 in total.
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The money is being split into three instalments to be paid in spring 2023, autumn 2023 and spring 2024.
More than eight million people will have the cash paid directly into their bank accounts automatically and don’t need to apply.
But there’s some who won’t qualify for the help, including those on Guardian’s Allowance and Child Benefit.
Those on the following benefits only won’t qualify for the £900 one-off cost of living payment:
- 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
You’ll only be able to receive the free cash if you’re in receipt of at least one of the following benefits:
For the previous £650 cost of living payment, which has already been made to millions, you had to be entitled or later found to be entitled to one of the above benefits by a certain date.
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This date has yet to be confirmed for the new £900 cost of living payment.
Those receiving tax credits will be paid the cash by HMRC.
But if you receive tax credits along with a qualifying benefit from DWP you will be paid by the DWP.
What other cost of living payments are coming?
The £900 cost of living payment isn’t the only one being paid out this year and into 2024.
The government has announced a whole raft of second cost of living payments will be made to millions on disability benefits and pensioners.
Over six million people with disabilities will receive a £150 payment this summer.
The exact eligibility criteria for getting the payment has not yet been made.
However, the Government’s website says you may be entitled to the £150 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
Those receiving a qualifying benefit from the Ministry of Defence and a qualifying benefit from DWP will get the disability cost of living payment from DWP only.
Millions of pensioners will also receive another £300 cost of living payment later this year.
This comes after last year’s help which was given to households who normally get the Winter Fuel Payment.
It’s not yet known whether households will qualify if they normally receive the Winter Fuel Payment, as exact details have not been revealed yet.
But, you qualified for the last Pensioner Cost of Living payment if:
- You were born on or before September 25, 1956
- You lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 in what is known as the “qualifying week”
You will get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023/24 if you were born before September 24, 1957.
So, it’s likely you will receive a £300 pensioner cost of living payment if you were born before this date, although it isn’t 100% confirmed at this time.
You will be sent a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get if you are eligible.
Check if you are entitled to benefits
A number of charities have benefits calculators that you can use to work out if you are entitled to any extra help.
This includes:
- Turn2Us
- Policy in Practice
- EntitledTo
It’s worth looking into, as if you do qualify, it could make you eligible for the £900 cost of living payment too.
Before you do use such a tool, you should make sure you have all the relevant paperwork to hand, including bank statements and any information on pensions and existing benefits.
You’ll also have to give information about yourself, including your age and who you live with.
Remember though, the tools only give you an indication of what benefits you might be entitled to.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
