Many people across Scotland and the UK may be eligible for extra help worth up to £450 with the cost of living as bills and food prices continue to soar.
As pressure continues to build for many households, the UK Government is offering five different payments to help people throughout the 2023/24 financial year.
Among these is the £301 cost of living payment, with those receiving benefits such as Universal Credit eligible for the boost. The payment was issued by the DWP from April 25 to May 17, however, some are only just receiving the cash due to being missed out earlier in the year or only becoming eligible due to a new benefit claim being backdated.
Additionally, those receiving disability benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will be paid a one-off sum of £150, with payments expected to land in bank accounts by July 4.
In order to receive the financial help, you must have been eligible for the benefits on April 1, or have a later claim backdated to this date. Across the UK, it is estimated that around eight million households quality for the £301, with 6.7million individuals expected to be eligible for the £150 payment, reports the Mirror.
Who qualifies for the £301 payment?
Those in receipt of the below benefits may be eligible for the £301 payment:
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
The one-off payments landed in bank account between April 25 and May 17. For those on tax credits there was a narrower payment window - May 2 to May 9.
However, some payments were made later due to people becoming eligible due to a more recent benefit claim that has since been backdated. There are also some who may have missed out on the initial rollout.
In order to quality, you must have received a payment of a benefit listed about between January 26 and February 25. For those on Universal Credit, an assessment period must have ended between those dates.
If you benefit was reduced to zero during that qualifying period, you will not be eligible for the cost of living payment. This is also known as a nil award.
Your Universal Credit may have been reduced to £0 for reasons such as getting paid twice during an assessment period, your earning or savings have suddenly increased, you started receiving another benefit that increase your overall income therefore disqualifying you from Universal Credit, or you were sanctioned for breaking rules such as failing to attend an appointment at a job centre.
However, if you had a nil aware due to a rent payment or debt deductions, you may still qualify for the payment.
Who qualifies for the £150 payment?
Those who may be eligible for the disability cost of living payment include people receiving:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
The £150 payment is paid per claim not per household - the rules are different compared to the £301 payment.
The financial boost is due to drop into the bank account of those eligible by July 4.
In order to be eligible, you must have received a payment of one of the benefits listed above for April 1, 2023. Claims that have been backdated to cover April 1 will also receive the payment.
Missing payments can be reported from July 5, after the initial roll out has been completed.
Full cost of living payment schedule 2023/2024
- £301 paid between April 25 and May 17 for most people on DWP means-tested benefits
- £301 paid between May 2 and 9 for most people on HMRC tax credits and no other means-tested benefits
- £150 paid between June 20 and July 4 for people on disability benefits
- £300 paid during autumn 2023 for people on means-tested benefits - no exact dates yet announced
- £300 paid in November and December to pensioners who get Winter Fuel Payment
- £299 paid during spring 2024 for people on means-tested benefits - no exact dates yet announced
