I am very pleased to confirm this week’s announcement that millions of households across the UK will receive £300 directly from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 31 October and 19 November, including around 7200 in Mid Sussex.
This will be the second of 3 payments totalling up to £900 supporting eligible people on means-tested benefits with the cost of living and make up part of government’s record financial support for the most vulnerable worth an average of £3,300 per household.
Eligible pensioner households will also receive a further £300 payment later this year as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment
Those customers who receive Tax credits-only and do not qualify for a payment from DWP will instead receive £300 from HMRC between 10 and 19 November 2023.
This £300 Cost of Living Payment will be sent out automatically and directly to recipients, either by the DWP or HMRC as applicable, meaning those eligible do not need to apply, contact the Government, or take any action to receive it. The payment reference for bank accounts will be the recipient’s National Insurance Number followed by DWP COL or HMRC COLS.
The full list of benefit recipients that qualify for the second Cost of Living Payment are those who are eligible and receive at least one of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
To be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment from DWP, you need to have been entitled to a payment for a qualifying benefit between 18 August 2023 and 17 September 2023, or payment for an assessment period, ending between these dates.
From HMRC, you need to have received a payment of tax credits for any day in the period between 18 August 2023 and 17 September 2023.
The DWP continues to encourage low-income pensioners not already getting Pension Credit to check their eligibility, as – thanks to Pension Credit backdating rules – they could still qualify for both the second Cost of Living Payment as well as the third payment due in Spring 2024. Over eight million pensioner households will also receive a further £300 payment later this year in addition to the Winter Fuel Payment.
More details on this announcement are available here.
