MILLIONS of households on benefits including Universal Credit are set to receive £301 in free cash within days.
The first instalment of the £900 cost of living payment will be made to the vast majority of eligible people between April 25 and May 17.
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The tax-free payment will be made automatically into bank accounts – so you don’t have to do anything if you are entitled to it.
You should look out for a specific code in your statement showing it is the £301 payment though.
The full list of benefits that qualify you for the payment is:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension credit
It’s worth noting if you are on Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits only, your payments are expected to land later.
This is because these payments will be issued by HMRC and not the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The government has not given a specific date for when these payments will be made.
The £301 payment is the first out of three, with the remaining two, worth £300 and £299, to be made for the vast majority of eligible people in autumn this year and spring 2024.
It follows the £650 cost of living payment made to over eight million people in 2022.
What other help is on offer?
It’s not just the £900 cost of living payment the government is issuing to those in need.
Millions of pensioners and those with a disability will receive payments worth up to £300 and £150 respectively too.
There might be some people who qualify for all three payments, in which case you will receive £1,350.
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
Meanwhile, millions of pensioners will receive a £150 or £300 cost of living payment from November.
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.
Meanwhile, thousands of households are in line for help through the latest batch of Household Support Fund.
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.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk
