MILLIONS of hard-up households are starting to receive the second instalment of the £900 cost of living payment.
The payment of £300 will be made between October 31 and November 19.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is sending payments automatically and directly to recipients’ bank accounts.
Households just need to look out their national insurance number followed by “DWP COL” on their bank statements.
Those eligible for the tax-free payment won’t have to do anything as it will be made automatically.
Below, we explain who will get the cost of living payment.
What is the £900 cost of living payment?
The £900 cost of living payment is a support payment paid to households in the UK that are struggling the most.
The payment is part of a £26billion package announced by the government to help people during the cost of living crisis.
This payment will be tax-free and will not have any effect on any existing benefit payments that you receive.
Am I eligible for the £900 payment?
The £900 payment will be going to millions on means-tested benefits – you’ll only be able to get it if you are claiming one of these benefits below.
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Tax Credits (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit)
- Universal Credit
You need to have been entitled to a payment for any of the qualifying benefits above between August 18 and September 17 to be eligible for the free cash.
If you were later found to be entitled to any of the above benefits between these qualifying dates you will be eligible for the payment too.
The payments won’t affect the benefit amount you usually get or contribute to the benefit cap.
How will I be paid?
Unlike last year’s help, this cost of living payment is being paid in three, not two, instalments.
The first two instalments have already been paid.
There’s no need to apply for the help – instead, the DWP will be in touch.
When will the £900 be paid?
The first payment, worth £301, was paid directly into bank accounts between in the Spring.
The second instalment, worth £300, is being paid between October 31 and November 19.
The final chunk of the £900 cost of living payment will be dished out in Spring next year – it is worth £299.
Further details about the qualifying benefit date for the third payment will be announced nearer the time.
We don’t know have an exact date for when the third payments will be made.
Other cost of living payments coming this year
If you aren’t set to receive the second instalment of the cost of living cash don’t worry because there is more help available to you.
A separate £300 pensioner Cost of Living payment will follow from November, but an exact date is yet to be announced.
If you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) for Winter 2023 to 2024, you will get the extra cash paid with your normal WFP money.
The WFP is worth up to £300 on its own, so if you’re eligible you could be in-line to get £600 in total.
Plus the £150 Warm Home Discount started being applied from October 16.
Households can get £150 off their electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The money is not paid to you but is a one-off discount applied to your electricity bill between now and March every year.
Hard-up households across the country can get £25 a week in support when temperatures drop.
Those eligible for a cold weather payment get £25 for each seven-day period of incredibly cold weather between November 1 and March 31.
Those on Universal Credit and other benefits could be eligible for an additional boost as Christmas quickly approaches.
The Department for Work and Pensions usually pays up during the first full week of December, and this year it’s expected households will receive £10.
The best part is, you don’t have to do anything – if you’re eligible, it will be paid into the account where you normally get benefit payments.
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