New cost of living support payments will go out to millions of households in the next financial year, starting in April 2023. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed that the £94 billion package had been put in place to support struggling families in his Spring Budget yesterday (Mar 15).
He said that cost of living payments over the previous year, combined with the extension of the £2,500 Energy Price Guarantee and the uprating of benefits, meant that every household in the country will have benefited from an average of £3,300 worth of support. And over the coming financial year, more one-off payments will be made to various groups – constituting the largest package of its kind in Europe, Birmingham Live reports.
Over the last year, payments worth £650 were paid to people on certain means-tested benefits, while those on disability benefits received a £150 payment and pensioners got extra support worth up to £300. Those three groups will be helped again over the next year, with the means-tested benefits support payment now boosted to £900.
READ MORE: Cost of living support for people on disability benefits including PIP set for debate in Parliament
Here's who is eligible and what we know so far about how and when the payments will be made.
£900 in three instalments
People on certain means-tested benefits will be paid £900 across the 2023/24 financial year, paid in three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299. Those eligible will be recipients of Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Pension Credit.
That means that those on New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseeker's Allowance will not qualify for the payment. Anyone whose Universal Credit is cut to zero during the qualifying period – because of high wages or an increase in savings – won't be eligible either.
The money will be paid to around 8.1 million households, including 5.4 million on Universal Credit, 1.4 million on Pension Credit and 1.3 million on legacy DWP benefits, like Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance. Those eligible do not need to apply as the payments will be made automatically.
All three instalments will go out during the next financial year, starting on April 6. The first payment, worth £301, will go into accounts at some point during the spring, with the second one due in the autumn and the third coming early next year.
The qualifying dates have not yet been announced, nor have the specific dates on which the payments will be made. But the first sum is expected to go out at some point between April 6 and the start of the summer on June 21.
£150 disability cost of living payment
People on disability benefits will receive a £150 payment at some point during the summer of 2023. It will go to claimants of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, Scottish disability payments, Armed Forces Independence Payment, or War Pension Mobility Supplement.
Over 6.5 million people are due to receive this support. Again, qualifying periods and payment dates have not yet been announced. But it is expected to be paid at some point between June 21 and September 23.
£300 pensioner cost of living payment
Pensioners due to receive the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) will get an additional £150 or £300 in 2023/24. It will be added to the usual WFP when it goes out in November.
To be eligible for the WFP, people must have been born before September 24, 1957. The exact amount someone receives depends on when they were born and what their circumstances are during the qualifying dates.
In October or November, letters will be sent out telling people how much Winter Fuel Payment they will receive if eligible.
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