The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an update on the £900 cost of living payments.
The dedicated page for the 2023/24 cost of living payments clarifies exactly who is eligible to receive the payments and how you will get the money.
The page can be found on GOV.UK and may be useful for those who are unsure as to whether they can get the support.
The Government department has not yet confirmed the exact dates for help - or the eligibility window - but has said that the first payment of £301 payment will be made in the spring of 2023.
It is understood the official payment window will be confirmed once the final date of the qualifying period passes.
According to the rules, must be entitled to at least 1p of a qualifying social security benefit with respect to the qualifying period to receive a Cost of Living Payment.
By "keeping the rules" simple the Government says it helped them make over 30million separate Cost of Living payments last year.
This was confirmed by the minister for social mobility, youth and progression Mims Davies in a written statement this week.
She wrote: "Keeping the rules for this policy simple enabled the government to make over 30 million separate payments to support with the cost of living while maintaining core benefit delivery in 2022.
"This includes the clear rule that you must be entitled to at least 1p of a qualifying social security benefit with respect to the qualifying period to receive a Cost of Living Payment."
According to the guidance on GOV.UK, this will be the same rules for the 2023/24 payments.
So, you will be eligible for the first cost of living payment of £301 is you claim one of these benefits on the qualifying date:
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
You will not be eligible to get it if you only get:
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance
- New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
The £900 Cost of Living payments will be tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.
The DWP say the payments are being made across the financial year to reduce the chance of someone missing out on receiving help completely.
