The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning to anyone who who has received an accidental cost of living payment. The government department has said those who were paid the money in error will have to pay it back.
This comes after more than six million people were issued an automatic £150 from June 20 if they received disability benefits. But in a update on the official cost of living payments page 2023/24 page on GOV.UK, DWP warns that “If you receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment, but we later find that you were not eligible for it, you may have to pay it back”.
The final payments were expected on July 4 though some may arrive later depending on special circumstances. This advisory from the DWP may be due to statistics published in the new ‘Fraud and Error in the benefits system’ report which estimates that £410 million (4.9%) in cost of living payments (across all benefits) were overpaid during the 2022/23 financial year.
