MILLIONS are set to receive a £301 cost of living payment within weeks, but not everyone will get the cash.
Households on specific 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 April, autumn and spring 2024.
The first payment will be hitting people’s bank accounts from April 25 to May 17.
Over eight million people will have the cash paid automatically and don’t need to apply for it.
However, there are some who won’t be eligible for the help such as those on Guardian’s Allowance and Child Benefit.
We’ve rounded up the full list of benefits that won’t qualify for the £301 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:
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If you were receiving any of the above benefits between January 26 and February 25 this year you will receive the £301 payment.
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.
For those receiving the £301 payment from the DWP, it will show in your bank account as “DWP COLP” along with your National Insurance (NI) number.
So, if your NI number is JT 83 42 97B your payment will show up as “DWP COLP JT 83 42 97B” on your statement.
The £301 payment is the first out of three that will be made – the remaining two, worth £300 and £299 will be made this autumn and in spring 2024 respectively.
It follows the £650 cost of living payment made to over eight million people in 2022.
What other help is coming?
Millions of people with disabilities and pensioners will receive cost of living payments worth up to £300 later this year and into 2024 too.
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 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.
Just type “find my local council” into Google and it should be the first link to click.
Meanwhile, here are seven loopholes that could stop you getting the cost of living payment.
Plus, more information on who will be getting the payments and when.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
