A cost of living payment of £326 is expected to hit the bank accounts of hundreds of thousands in Wales over the next month as part of the government DWP ’s £37 billion support package. So, are you eligible?
The £650 cost of living payment will be made in two parts, with the first payment of £326 paid to seven million households across the UK who are on means-tested benefits from yesterday until July 31. Around 426,000 of those will be in Wales.
A second instalment of £324 “will follow from the autumn”, the Government states. Low-income households will receive at least £1,200 from the government by Christmas to help them pay their bills.
Read More: DWP's first £326 cost-of-living payment to hit millions of UK bank accounts from this week
Am I eligible for the DWP cost of living payment?
To qualify you must be receiving some Government benefits. These include Universal credit, Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), Income-related employment and support allowance (Esa), Income support, Pension credit, Child tax credit, and Working tax credit, the Guardian reports.
If you qualify for the payment it will be made automatically into the same bank account your benefits are paid into. It will come under the reference ‘DWP Cost of Living’.
However, those who claim tax credit, such as Child tax credit or Working tax credit, may have to wait a little longer for their first cost of living instalment. The DWP states that tax credit claimants “will receive their first cost of living instalment by autumn”.
The Government stated yesterday, Thursday July 14: “Almost one in four families across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will get £326 sent directly to them from today, with the second instalment of £324 sent later this year as part of the government’s £37 billion support package.”
What other DWP payments are being made?
There are three DWP payments being made across the UK. These include the cost of living payment, a disability payment, and a pensioner payment.
Government data states that 426,000 households, or 5% of Welsh households are estimated to be eligible for the means-tested benefit Cost of Living Payment. Meanwhile, 407,000, or 6% of individuals in Wales are eligible for the £150 disability Cost of Living Payment.
The payment for pensioners and disabled people is “coming later this year”, the DWP states. People can find out more information about cost-of-living support at costoflivingsupport.campaign.gov.uk.
Who will get the disability payment?
Nearly one in ten people will receive the disability payment. Those in receipt of the following benefits will receive the disability payment this autumn:
- Attendance allowance
- Constant attendance allowance
- Disability living allowance for adults
- Disability living allowance for children
- Personal independence payment
- Armed Forces independence payment
- War pension mobility supplement
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