The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) made more than 7.2 million payments for the first instalment of the £650 means-tested cost of living support package last month with a further one million people on Tax Credits due to receive the one-off lump sum for £326 in September. A date for the second round of support, worth £324, has not been confirmed but is expected at some point over this winter.
Almost one in four families across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland qualify for financial help from the UK Government's £37 billion support package. However, if you are not eligible for the means-tested payment, or any of the others due to be paid l in the next few months - £150 for people on disability benefits or £300 for pensioner households - you may still be able to access extra financial help and checking could only take a few minutes using an online benefits calculator.
Even consumer champion Martin Lewis recently advised households earning less than £30,000 to use an online benefits calculator to check if they qualify for any benefits, discounts or reductions.
