MILLIONS of people on disability benefits are set to get a £150 payment to help cover the rising cost of living.
Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a giant support package earlier this year targeted at the most vulnerable households.
1
Among the measures was a £650 cost of living payment, which will eventually go out to eight million people.
But around six million people across the UK who receive certain disability benefits could also receive a one-off £150 payment direct to their bank accounts.
You may get the lump sum payment in September if you receive any of the following:
- 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
Claimants must have received, or begun an eventually successful claim for one of these benefits as of May 25 this year to be eligible for the £150 payment.
For the disability benefit recipients who receive means tested benefits, the £150 will come on top of the £650 they will receive separately.
And don’t worry, you don’t need to do anything, the payments will be made automatically to anyone who qualifies.
Most read in Money
The DWP are yet to confirm how the payments will be made or the exact date, but has previously said in September.
It is expected it will land in the same bank account your benefits are paid into – as with the £650 cost of living payment.
The first half of the £650 cost of living payment worth £326 was made by the end of July for 7million people -the second half s coming in autumn.
People were able to see when the money landed in their bank account by looking for the words: DWP Cost of Living.
The exact code for the £150 disability cost of living payment is also yet to be confirmed.
All the cost of living payments are exempt from tax, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.
The government will make these payments directly to eligible people across the UK.
Extra help you can get now
If you’re waiting for the cost of living payment to arrive – or are not eligible – there’s other support you might get.
There are schemes offered by energy suppliers, local councils, charities and the government that could help.
If you’re struggling with energy costs or other bills there are plenty of organisations where you can seek advice for free, including:
You should speak to your energy supplier in the first instance as they have schemes in place to help with bills and arrears, including hardship funds and grants.
For example, British Gas and Octopus have set up funds worth up to £1,500 to help customers who are struggling with their bills.
Your local council may also be able to help with cash and grants if you are struggling with bills or food through the Household Support Scheme.
You should also check that you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.
Use an online benefits calculator to make sure you’re not missing out on any extra cash.
Similarly, you can search for charity grants that help you pay for gas and electricity bills.
Cost of living payments: what you need to know
Below is a list of all the key information you need to know around the cost of living payments:
