As the cost of living crisis continues to worsen for people across Scotland, there is a number of payments available to those claiming certain benefits.
So far this year, approximately seven million people throughout the UK have been transferred the first of two cost of living payments. The first instalment was £326, while the second — which will be paid this autumn — will be £324.
The payments are administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to those who claim specific low-income benefits. Meanwhile, people who get Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit from HMRC will receive the payment as well, with the first instalment due this month and the second due this winter.
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As well as the two instalments of the £650 cost of living payment, there is additional financial help available to those in need between now and Christmas. This includes a one-off £150 payment available to people receiving disability benefits, as well as a £300 boost for pensions who receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
Additionally, households across the UK will get a £400 energy bills rebate, which will be delivered in the form of a monthly discount on their bills.
As reported by Lancashire Live, here is a summary of every cost of living payment that you could receive between now and Christmas.
How to check if you are eligible for financial support
There are three separate cost of living payments that will be administered between now and the end of the year, and you could be eligible for all of them.
£650 cost of living payment
- Administered to those who receive means-tested benefits and Tax Credits and is administered in two separate payments of £326 and £324
£150 Disability cost of living payment
Administered to those who receive certain disability benefits
£300 Pensioner cost of living payment
- Administered to those who receive the Winter Fuel Payment
Autumn — £650 cost of living payment
As stated earlier, the £650 cost of living payment is delivered in two separate instalments of £326 and £324. Most people who are eligible will have already received the first payment, though the DWP has warned that it may take longer for more complex cases.
Qualifying benefits and Tax Credits
You could qualify for the £650 cost of living payment if you are in receipt of any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Important to note is that if you claim both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive the cost of living payment for only Child Tax Credit. Additionally, if you claim both Tax Credits from HMRC and any means-tested benefit from the DWP, you will receive the cost of living payment from the DWP.
September — £150 disability cost of living payment
To qualify for the one-off disability cost of living payment, you need to have received any of the following benefits during the qualifying period:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
If you claim a qualifying disability benefit from the MoD as well as a qualifying disability benefit from the DWP, you will receive the £150 payment from the DWP only.
October — £400 energy rebate
All UK households that have a domestic electricity connection will be given a £400 discount on their energy bills. This will be administered automatically and so there is no need to reach out to your supplier.
How the discount will be applied to customers
The discount will be applied by supplier to customers across a six-month period beginning in October. It will be delivered as such:
- October - £66
- November - £66
- December - £67
- January - £67
- February - £67
- March - £67
You will receive the discount monthly regardless of whether you pay for your energy monthly or quarterly. If you have not received the discount by the end of October, you should reach out to your energy company.
Prepayment meter customers
Those who have a smart prepayment meter will have the rebate credited directly during the first week of each month. People with traditional prepayment meters will be given a redeemable voucher or a Special Action Message (SAM) during the first week of each month.
November and December: £300 pensioner cost of living payment
Eligible pensioner households will get a one-off £300 sum added on to the Winter Fuel Payment, paid in November or December. In order to qualify, you must be of State Pension age during the week of 19-25 September and you must get the Winter Fuel Payment.
The £300 payment and who it doesn't apply to
In some situations, a person over the State Pension age may not qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment. Find out more here.
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