Cost of Living Payment

Cost of Living Payments

 

The UK Government have released guidance relating to the Cost-of-Living Payment. However, you must be in receipt of Certain Benefits before you qualify. The rules can be complex, it’s important that we check the eligibility criteria for each separate payment.

If you’re eligible, you do not need to apply. You’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your Benefit or Tax Credits. The Tax-Free payments will be made separately and will not affect from your Benefit or Tax Credits

 

When will the payment be made?

• The first payment of £326 will be paid from 14 July, with most payments made by the end of July
• The second payment of £324 will be in Autumn 2022

 

What are the ‘Qualifying Benefits?’

 

•      Universal Credit (UC) for an assessment period that ended in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022, 
•     Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022
•     Tax credit claimants who received a payment, or had an annual award, of at least £26 on any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022 also qualify for the first payment. 

 

Tax Credits

The first payment to Tax Credit claimants will be made from Autumn 2022 and the second payment in Winter 2022.

The qualifying dates for the second payment haven’t been announced.

If a person receives tax credits from HMRC and a means-tested benefit from the DWP at the same time, their payment will be from the DWP.

The Bill and guidance also cover the £150 lump sum Disability Cost of Living Payment to those who received a payment (or later receive a payment) of certain disability benefits for 25 May 2022. This will be made from September.

 

Help for those with Disabilities.

If you’re in receipt of one of the following Disability benefits, you may get an additional ‘Disability Cost-of-Living-Payment.’ This entails a lump sum payment of £150 if you’re getting any of the following:

•      Attendance Allowance
•      Constant Attendance Allowance
•      Disability Living Allowance for adults
•      Disability Living Allowance for children
•      Personal Independence Payment
•      Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
•      Child Disability Payment (in Scotland) 
•      Armed Forces Independence Payment
•      War Pension Mobility Supplement

 

Eligibility

You must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) of one of these qualifying benefits for 25 May 2022 to get the payment.

If you get a qualifying disability benefit from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and a qualifying disability benefit from DWP, you will get a Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP only.

When you’ll get paid

You’ll get the payment from September 2022.

 

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Winter Fuel Payment

If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023, you will get an extra £300 for your household paid with your normal payment from November 2022. This is in addition to any Cost-of-Living Payment you get with your benefit or tax credits.

The full amount of Winter Fuel Payment you will get for winter 2022 to 2023 depends on your circumstances.

Your circumstances	Born between 26 September 1942 and 25 September 1956	Amount if born on or before 25 September 1942
You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify)	£500	£600
You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies	£250	£350
You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies	£250	£300
You qualify and live with a partner who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits	£500 - only one of you will get the payment	£600 - only one of you will get the payment
You qualify and live with someone (not your partner) who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits	£500 - you’ll both get the payment	£600 - you’ll both get the payment
You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits	£250	£300

 

 

Further help:

If you haven’t done so already, you should Check your Benefit Entitlements online., you may be missing out on entitlements.

See our ‘If you’re struggling with living costs’ page to see if there is anything else available for you.

You may wish to speak to an Adivser about this. You can do this by calling 01634 383760, or by accessing our Contact Form.