More than six million people across the UK will soon be seeing the new cost of living payment appear in their accounts. The new £150 payment from the Department for Work and Pensions will be entering people's accounts between Tuesday, June 20 and Tuesday, July 4.
However, some people may receive the payment later if they are later found to be eligible because of a recent benefits claim that was backdated to the qualifying date of April 1. Those eligible for the payment include claimants of the Disability Living Allowance (for adults and children), Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance, War Pension Mobility Supplement or the Scotland-only benefits of Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment.
However, this list of benefits qualifying for the cost of living payment does not include the Universal Credit's disability payment for limited capability for work and work-related activity, known as LCWRA reports Birmingham Live. According to DWP statistics, around 373,000 people claim the LCWRA top-up but do not get an eligible standalone disability benefit, such as PIP or Disability Living Allowance.
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A DWP spokesperson said: "Disabled people on low incomes in receipt of means-tested benefits may previously have been eligible for £301 this spring, and stand to be eligible for a further £300 this autumn and £299 in spring 2024. The £150 payment will be made on top of these cost of living payments, with disabled people who wouldn't qualify for the means-tested support, but who are in receipt of disability support, also receiving the payment."
Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said: "We know the cost of living has gone up for disabled people, which is why we are taking action to reduce the financial pressures they face. This £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment is on top of up to £900 that most low-income benefit claimants will also receive, helping ensure the most vulnerable in our society are protected from rising costs during this challenging period."
What is LCWRA?
When someone is placed in the Universal Credit's LCWRA group it normally means their disability or condition is so severe that it hinders their ability to work or do anything to prepare for work, such as write a CV, attend training courses, or have appointments with a work coach.
If people on Universal Credit are given a work capability assessment and determined to be unable to work either now or in the future, they get the LCWRA top-up. This is an extra £390 a month on top of the standard allowance of Universal Credit.
What about LCW?
Those who are assessed as unable to work at present but able to go back to work in the future are put in the limited capability for work. group. They don't get any extra cash and must make preparations for an eventual return to employment, such as compiling a CV or going on courses to enhance their skills.
People who were on LCW before the rules changed on April 3, 2017, get an extra amount of £146 a month, but this is not paid to anyone claiming after that date. Both top-ups are elements of Universal Credit, a means-tested benefit that is eligible for a £900 cost of living package in the 2023/2024 financial year.
This is being split into three instalments, with the first part of £301 given out between April 25 and May 17 this year.
Why people on LCWRA don't get the disability cost of living payment
As LCWRA is not a disability benefit in its own right but an element of Universal Credit based on an assessment of the ability to work, it is not part of the eligibility criteria for the £150 disability cost of living payment. Whereas disability benefits are typically based on a person's ability to carry out everyday activities such as washing and dressing and on their mobility, rather than whether or not they can work.
However, people receiving LCWRA would, like everyone else on Universal Credit, have already had the £301 cost of living payment and be in line for further payments of £300 and £299, provided they met the qualifying rules on dates. Some people who receive Universal Credit and a separate disability benefit such as PIP will get both sets of payments.
