Pensioners on low incomes could get £299 next month but hundreds of thousands are at risk of missing out.
The DWP warned people that the extra cash would soon be arriving and advised on how to spot it.
Asking people to check the payment dates, they posted to X: “If you claim certain benefits, including tax credits, you could automatically receive an extra £299 #CostOfLivingPayment.”
The money will start to land in bank accounts from Tuesday, February 6 and the campaign on social media is aiming to highlight that the payment will be made to eligible people receiving some benefits.
People who claim Pension Credit are among those eligible for the Cost of Living payment– worth £299 from the DWP.
Pension credit is tax-free financial support provided by the government. While 1.4 million people are claiming pension credit, it’s thought hundreds of thousands of households are missing out because they do not realise they are eligible.
The average Pension Credit award is now worth £3,900 per year and there is still time for those who are eligible to apply and receive the £300 Cost of Living payment.
This is because an eligible claim for Pension Credit can be backdated by three months provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout that time.
A person must have been entitled to Pension Credit, or later found to be entitled to Pension Credit, for any day in the period November 13 to December 12, 2023, to qualify via this benefit.
Claimants would need to apply by March 12, 2024 to avoid missing out on the tax-free Cost of Living payment.
The Cost of Living Payments spread across 2023/24, are worth up to £900 for those on means-tested benefits.
Around 8 million eligible households across the UK are set to receive a £299 Cost of Living Payment next month.
The money will be sent automatically by the DWP and HM Revenue and Customers into the bank account which people receive benefits between February 6 and 22.
The payment reference for bank accounts will be the recipient’s National Insurance Number followed by DWP COL or HMRC COLS.
The full list of benefit recipients that qualify for the second Cost of Living Payment are those who are eligible and receive at least one of the following: Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit.
The latest DWP figures show 880,000 households who are entitled to Pension Credit have not claimed it.
Pension Credit is a top-up benefit, providing extra money to help people who have reached state pension age and are on a low incomes.
It is also a gateway to other forms of support such as Council Tax Reduction and in some cases, a free TV licence.
For more information, people can visit the Government website.
