Financial guru Martin Lewis has raised his concerns after reports of a delay regarding the £150 cost of living payment for people on disability benefits.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has admitted there have been delays in sending out the payments. They were due to be sent to bank account on Tuesday, September 20 but the DWP told Money Saving Expert, founded by Martin, that "operational issues" led to delays in sending out the money, as Hull Live reports.
They added that this issue meant that only a limited amount of people got their payments. Martin asked his Twitter followers if anyone had received their money but no one out of 5,000 responders said they had, annd over on Facebook a further 1,700 people said the same thing.
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A DWP spokesman, however, has since assured MSE that everyone will be paid by the start of October, as the money guru said on ITV's Martin Lewis' Money Show Live.
Martin said: "A few days before the then Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced his energy package back in May, he called me to get some rough feedback on what he had planned. In that conversation I raised the need for specific help for people with disabilities, many of whom by necessity have far increased energy usage.
"On the back of that he agreed to do something, though caveated that it wouldn't be much as it was interlinked with the £650 payment for those on benefits. I believe that is when the £150 payment was born. It's not a huge amount, but for many struggling, everything counts right now.
"That was four months ago. Many people have been eagerly, needily, waiting for it. We were told the payments would start on Tuesday. Yet when I asked on social media yesterday, among thousands of responses not a soul had received it. Of course the promise is it will be paid by October, so that hasn't been breached.
"Yet for people in a desperate situation, expectation management is crucial and so I'd call on the DWP to give better information on exactly when people can expect the money in their bank account."
Money Saving Expert advise that if you don't receive your payment by the end of October, you should contact the DWP. The cost of living payments are being issued automatically and you don't need to apply. But there could also be a delay if you still waiting on a decision on your benefit application or appeal.
It is also possible that you might not be eligible for the payment. You can check if you're eligible on Gov.uk.
If you DON'T meet any of the criteria directly above but think you're eligible and haven't got your payment by mid-October, you can contact the DWP to appeal via phone or your online benefits account.
The DWP said those who had confirmed payment of their disability benefit for 25 May 2022 – those who were already receiving or had successfully applied by then – were expected to be paid shortly after the payment window opened on September 20. For those still waiting for confirmation of their disability benefits on 25 May 2022, or who are waiting to be assessed for eligibility to receive disability benefits, the process may take longer.
You can use the MSE 10-minute benefits checker calculator to see what you could qualify for. Benefits are not only available to those out of work – even some families with an income of £50,000 or more can get help.
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