The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has rejected a call from Labour MP, Charlotte Nichols, to widen the eligibility scope for the one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment to include people on contribution-based Employment Support Allowance and other non-means tested benefits.
Last month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £15 billion package of further financial support for millions of households across the UK struggling to make their incomes stretch to cover the rising cost of living.
This package is in addition to the £22 billion announced previously, with UK Government support now totalling over £37 billion which means that millions of the most vulnerable households will get £1,200 of one-off support in total this year along with a £400 discount on their electricity bill - and it doesn’t need to be paid back.
