The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that more than eight million households on means-tested benefits are set to receive payments of up to £900, made in three lump sums, over the course of the new financial year. The first round of payments for £301 will be made automatically this Spring to those receiving a qualifying benefit.
The £900 cost of living payment will be delivered in three slightly different amounts - £301, £300 and £299. DWP said that the distinct value of each instalment relates to a specific qualifying period, to make it “simpler to determine if a payee received the correct payments” and thereby “reducing the fraud risk of people who claim not to have had one of the specific three payments” as DWP and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will be able to easily track those who have.
No exact payment windows have been released yet, however, DWP said that more details will be announced nearer the time.
