The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has made over seven million cost of living payments of £324 in the previous week.
It means that roughly 99 per cent of those claiming means-tested benefits who are eligible for the payment have been sent the second half of the £650 cost of living payment package. It also means that the government has paid out around £2.3 billion nationwide to all those eligible for the payment across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland since the payment was rolled out last Tuesday.
Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride said: “This Government promised to protect those on the lowest incomes, and it is great to be able to confirm today that we have delivered on this commitment with our latest Cost of Living Payment reaching over seven million households in the last week alone.
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“This payment is just part of a wider support package the Government has provided, with millions of families benefiting from a Council Tax rebate and pensioners across the country receiving winter fuel support as the weather gets colder and disabled people getting help with additional costs they face. We will continue to support the most vulnerable as we deal with the impact of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the pandemic.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt said: “We know families are struggling with the rising prices caused by Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. That is why we’ve delivered over 7 million cash payments directly into the bank accounts of the most vulnerable households in just one week and will make over a million more to those on tax credits later this month.
“This is part of the £1,200 cash support we’re giving to the poorest members of society during this difficult period. At the upcoming Autumn Statement, we will continue to prioritise helping the most vulnerable, as we make the tough decisions needed to drive down inflation and fix our public finances.”
What if I haven't received the payment yet?
If you are in the one per cent of those eligible who are still waiting for the second half of the cost of living payment, there's no need to be concerned, according to the DWP. It expects that some payments may take until November 23 to be processed.
However, if you are still waiting after that date then you should report the missing payment to the government as soon as possible. The government has highlighted a small number of cases where an automated payment has not been possible, such as where Universal Credit payment are split between a couple - in this case, the government has put together a dedicated team of agents who are working through them manually.
If you are receiving tax credits and are expecting a cost of living payment, this should be made between November 23 and November 30.
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