The government will soon roll out the first instalment of its cost of living payments which could reach £1,350 for select groups.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), over eight million families in the UK on means-tested benefits will automatically receive the first payment of £301 this Spring. Meanwhile, over 6.5 million people on disability benefits will receive an extra £150 this summer.
Across 2023/24, five cost-of-living payments will be handed out to vulnerable households, including pensioners and those with disabilities.
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Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride said: "These direct payments will help people right across the UK over this year and the start of the next, as we continue to provide consistent, targeted and substantial support for the most vulnerable. Our wider support package, including the Energy Price Guarantee, will ensure every household is being helped through this challenging period of high inflation, caused by Putin’s illegal war and the aftershocks of the pandemic."
Who will be entitled to all of the £1,350 on offer?
According to the DWP, the payment timetable is as follows:
- £301 – First 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023
- £150 – 2023 Disability Payment – during Summer 2023
- £300 – Second 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023
- £300 – 2023 Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/4
- £299 – Third 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024
The payments totalling to £900 will automatically be on offer for those receiving means-tested benefits. However, an additional £450 will be available for those eligible for summer's disability payment as well as winter's pensioner payment - equating to £1,350.
There are several benefits available which could make claimants eligible for the £301 cost of living payment, including Universal Credit and tax credits. According to the DWP, up to 5.4 million households in the UK are believed to qualify for these benefits, and in turn, qualify for the cost of living payments.
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