OVER one million on benefits won’t get the £301 cost of living payment from today (April 25).
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has started issuing the money to those on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other benefits.
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The free cash support is being made as a direct bank transfer between April 25 and May 17.
But those receiving Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits only won’t see the payment until May 2 earliest.
The money for the roughly one million people in this situation will land in bank accounts between May 2 and May 9.
The payment is tax-free and will be made automatically so you don’t have to do anything.
You should look out for an exact code in your bank statement showing you it’s the cost of living payment though – “HMRC COLS”.
The £301 payment is the first instalment of three, which combined total £900.
The second instalment worth £300 will be paid this summer, while the third worth £299 will be made in spring next year.
What other help is there?
It’s not just the roughly eight million receiving the £900 cost of living payment.
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Millions more with a disability will receive a £150 payment and millions of pensioners will get £150-£300 transferred into their bank account.
You may be entitled to the £150 disability cost of living 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
If you are eligible for the payment, it will be made this summer.
Meanwhile, pensioners who are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023/24 will get an extra £150 or £300 paid on top of their normal payment from November 2023.
You will be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter if you were born before September 25, 1957.
Those eligible for the payment will receive a letter in October and November telling them how much money to expect.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for all three payments, it means you will get £1,350 from the government in tax-free cash.
Beyond the cost of living payments, you might be in line for help through the Household Support Fund.
The help is distributed by local councils so you should check with yours what you might be in line for.
You can use the government’s council locator tool on its website to find your local authority.
Check if you are entitled to benefits
If you are not receiving benefits currently, it’s worth checking if you are eligible for any.
Not only will you start receiving money from the benefit, it might make you eligible for one of the cost of living payments.
A number of charities have benefits calculators that you can use to work out what you are entitled to, including:
- Turn2Us
- Policy in Practice
- EntitledTo
Before checking, make sure you’ve got all the relevant paperwork to hand, including bank statements and any information on pensions or existing benefits.
Remember, you’ll have to give information about yourself including age and who you live with too.
It’s all worth bearing in mind any benefit calculator tools will only give you an indication of what you could get, they’re not always 100% accurate.
