More than eight million households have started to receive new cost of living help from today.
The first instalment of the £900 cost of living payment, worth £301, is hitting bank accounts between April 25 and May 17.
The money is being sent to households on certain means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit.
But this is the first of three instalments that make up the £900 cost of living cash - with two payments worth £300 and £299 to be sent out over the next year.
There will also be payments worth £150 for people claiming disability benefits and £300 for pensioners.
Here is everything you need to know.
£900 cost of living payment
You need to be claiming one of the following means-tested benefits to receive the first instalment of the £900 cost of living payment.
Universal Credit
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Pension Credit
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
You need to have been entitled to a payment, or later found to have been entitled, between January 26 and February 25, to receive the money.
For those claiming Universal Credit, this counts as the qualifying assessment period.
But you will not be eligible for the cost of living payment if your benefit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying period.
This is often referred to as a "nil award".
If you claim Tax Credits from HMRC and no benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) then you’ll receive your £301 at a later date.
These households will receive the cash between May 2 and May 9.
Dates for the second and third instalment of the £900 cost of living payments - set to be worth £300 and £299 - have not yet been confirmed.
The second payment is due to be sent in autumn 2023, while the third payment will be sent in spring 2024.
If you start claiming benefits at a later date, you may qualify for a second or third payment, even if you can’t claim the first payment now.
£150 disability cost of living payment
A cost of living payment worth £150 will be paid to those claiming the following disability benefits.
Disability Living Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance
Scottish Disability Benefits
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Constant Attendance Allowance
War Pension Mobility Supplement
The qualifying period for when you need to be claiming these benefits by has not yet been announced by the Government.
We also don’t yet know when this payment is due, but it is expected sometime in summer 2023.
£300 pensioner cost of living payment
Pensioners will be awarded a £300 cost of living payment on top of their Winter Fuel Payment.
Winter Fuel Payments are worth up to £300 depending on your circumstances - meaning some households will potentially get up to £600 this winter.
You can see the eligibility criteria for the winter just gone here - updated guidance has not yet been put out for the next round of Winter Fuel Payments.
The date for Winter Fuel Payments and the pensioner cost of living cash has also not yet been confirmed.
Last year, most people received the cash automatically in November or December.
Some people have to apply and the deadline to do this is normally the following March.
