The UK Government recently announced a series of new cost of living payment s to help millions of households across the country mitigate soaring inflation and ever-increasing energy bills. The new cost of living support package is worth £26 billion in 2023/24, in addition to benefits uprating, which is worth £11 billion to working age households and people with disabilities.
This means that millions of households across Scotland and the ret of the UK will be supported by additional cost of living payments. The payments are made up of £900 for people on an eligible low income benefit, £300 for pensioner households and £150 for people on disability benefits, including the devolved Adult and Child Disability Payments in Scotland.
Details about qualifying periods and payment dates have not been announced yet, but the guidance on GOV.UK suggests that eligible benefits for each cost of living payment will remain the same as those made to over eight million on low-income benefits, six million on disability benefits and eight million pensioner households.
New £900 cost of living payments for households on means-tested benefits
More than eight million UK households on means-tested benefits will receive an additional cost of living payment of £900 in 2023/24.
This includes all households receiving the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will issue further details on timings of these payments and eligibility dates in due course.
This payment will be tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.
New £300 cost of living payment for pensioners
More than eight million pensioner households across the UK will receive an additional £300 cost of living payment in 2023/24.
This is in addition to the means-tested benefit and disability payments, if eligible, which could give them a total income boost of £1,350.
The Uk Government said: “Pensioners are disproportionately impacted by higher energy costs, many are unable to increase their income through work, and many low-income pensioner households do not claim the means tested benefits they are entitled to, so offering universal support for this group is the right thing to do.”
DWP will provide further detail on timing of the payments and eligibility dates for this payment in due course.
This payment will be tax-free and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.
New £150 disability cost of living payments
Over six million people across the UK on non-means-tested disability benefits will receive a further £150 disability cost of living payment in 2023/24.
This is in addition to the cost of living payments for households on means tested benefits and pensioner households, if eligible.
This includes everyone eligible for:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
This payment will be tax-free and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.
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