The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be making payments totalling up to £1,350 to the most vulnerable in 2023 as the cost of living crisis continues.
This year, the government handed out a £650 cost of living payment to those in receipt of means-tested benefits, delivered as two instalments in July and November. It also provided an additional £150 payment to those on disability benefits, and an additional payment of up to £300 to pensioners alongside the Winter Fuel Payment.
In October, chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that the cost of living payment scheme would be brought back in 2023. This time around, people on eligible means-tested benefits will be given a £900 boost. The £300 pensioner and £150 disability cost of living payments will also return. That means someone who is eligible for all three payments will receive a total of £1,350 for the year.
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It is understood that more than eight million UK households will be eligible for the £900 payment, and millions more will also be eligible for the pensioner payment, Chronicle Live reports. A spokesman for the DWP said: “Pensioners are disproportionately impacted by higher energy costs, many are unable to increase their income through work, and many low-income pensioner households do not claim the means-tested benefits they are entitled to, so offering universal support for this group is the right thing to do.”
The emergency package will see some £26 billion set aside to help those most in need. All payments are tax-free and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. The £900 payment will not count towards the benefit cap, however it is not clear whether the same applies to the £300 and £150 payments.
Details of those who can claim the additional support are below.
Households receiving the following benefits are eligible for the £900 payment:
Universal Credit
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Pension Credit
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
People able to claim the £150 disability payment include those in receipt of:
Disability Living Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
Adult Disability Payment
Child Disability Payment
Attendance Allowance
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Constant Attendance Allowance
War Pension Mobility Supplement
Specific dates for the payments have not yet been confirmed, but it is understood the £900 payment will be split into installments.
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