THE Department for Work and Pensions has revealed how you can report missing cost of living payments worth up to £450.
The Government is in the process of delivering three cash grants to millions of households – all should be made by spring 2024.
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They are worth £900, £150 and £150-£300 and different eligibility criteria applies for each one.
The £900 payment has been split into three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299, and the first should have already been made in April and May.
Meanwhile, the £150 payment, for millions suffering from a disability, should have been made between June 20 and July 4.
But, if you think you should have received either of the payments and haven’t, you can report them missing to the DWP.
Anyone who missed the £301 payment has been able to report it missing since May.
But anyone who has not received the £150 disability cost of living payment has only been able to report it missing from today.
That means you could claim the missing payments, if you are eligible for both, and get a £450 cash injection into your bank account.
Here’s everything you need to know about reporting a missing payment:
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How to report a missing cost of living payment
You can report a missing cost of living payment if you think you should have had one but can’t see it in your bank statement.
The £301 payment will have shown up as either “DWP COLP” plus your National Insurance (NI) number or “HMRC COLS”.
Meanwhile, the £150 disability cost of living payment should have shown up as “DWP COL” plus your NI number.
But if you don’t have any of these codes in your statement you can report a missing payment on the Government’s website.
You’ll need your NI number to hand and make sure you don’t report the same missing payment more than once.
It’s worth bearing in mind, you might still be waiting for the £150 disability cost of living payment if you were awarded one of the qualifying benefits from April 1 onwards.
What are the cost of living payments?
The three cost of living payments are already being distributed to millions of households across the UK.
Here’s everything you need to know about how much they’re worth and who is eligible.
Low income payment – £900
The £900 cost of living payment is being paid to over eight million on benefits.
It has been split into three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299.
The first instalment should have been made in May and June this year, while the remaining two are set to be paid in autumn and spring 2024 respectively.
You are eligible for the payments if you receive the following benefits:
You don’t need to apply for the payments as they are made automatically if you qualify.
Disability payment – £150
The £150 disability cost of living payment should have already been paid to the vast majority of eligible people.
Millions should have received the payment between June 20 and July 4.
Again, you need to have been receiving one of a number of certain benefits to qualify for the cash grant. These are:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Scottish Disability Benefits (Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
If you were already claiming one of the above benefits before April 1, the money should have been paid to you already.
However, if you were still awaiting confirmation of your eligibility for one of the benefits you may receive the £150 after July 4.
In any case, the payment should be paid to you automatically if you are eligible.
Pensioner payment – £150-£300
Millions of pensioners in line for the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023/24 will get an extra £150 or £300 on top.
You will be in line for a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 25, 1957.
The amount of top up you’ll get depends on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying dates, such as if you were living alone or with a partner.
You’ll be sent a letter in October or November telling you how much you are in line for.
In the vast majority of cases, you won’t need to apply for the payment. This includes if you receive any of the following:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Carers Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Income Support
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- awards from the War Pensions Scheme
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Death Benefit
If you do not get any of these, you will need to claim if either of the following apply:
- You’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before
- You’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment
You can apply by phone on 0800 731 0160 or post by filling in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form.
You can download one off the Government’s website, fill it in then post it to:
Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LR
What other help can I get?
You can get extra help beyond the cost of living payments if you’re struggling with everyday essentials.
You might be able to get help via the Household Support Fund, which is worth £842million.
The pot has come from the Government and been shared between councils in England.
But each local authority has been given a unique share so what you’re entitled to depends on where you live.
Households in Cheshire East are in line for cash grants worth £160, while residents in Torridge can get payments worth up to £1,000.
And thousands of residents in Wokingham can get up to £100 in support from their council.
The support comes in different forms – some councils are handing out cash grants while others are distributing vouchers.
You should get in touch with your council to see what help is available.
If you don’t know what council area you fall under you can use the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
Meanwhile, a number of energy firms offer struggling customers grants to cover bills worth up to £1,500.
British Gas, E.On and Scottish Power are just a few.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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