Nearly 400,000 families are expecting to be £324 better off this week, as the long-awaited second cost of living payment is distributed by the Department of Work and Pensions.
Although the DWP have admitted that only a "small number" of people waiting for the last part of the £650 payment will receive it on the first day, payments are due to start on Tuesday, with "numbers increasing significantly" from Wednesday onwards. All payments to those on Universal Credit are are due to be made by November 23 and f amilies in receipt of Tax Credits and other legacy benefits will get their money from November 23-30.
Figures released by the DWP show that a total of 8.2 million households - or nearly one in four in the UK - will receive the £650 Cost of living Payment in full. This amounts to a total cost of £5.4 billion. In the whole of the North East region, including Teesside, 397,000 people are due to receive the second payment.
