Cost of Living Payments 2024: -This is the third payment up to £900 to be paid to beneficiary households in 2023/24. It is a support package that has been supporting households since autumn 2021
Cost of Living Payments
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will make payments across the UK by the between 6 and 22 February. tax credit only households will receive payments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) between February 16 and 22. Payments are sent automatically, and recipients do not need to claim them.
Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “As the economy turns the corner and inflation falls, we are providing millions of the most vulnerable households with yet another significant cash boost.”
Who will receive the cost of living payments?
If you receive one of the following benefits or tax credits, you may be entitled to up to three living allowance payments of £301, £300 and £299.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Payments are made separately from benefits.
The UK government has announced that it will continue to support the cost of living for people in poverty beyond April, by increasing benefits by 6.7% in line with inflation, maintaining the triple lock and increasing the state pension by 8.5%, among other things. You can visit the Households website to see the cost of living arrangements available to you and other details. The number of people needing debt relief in 2023 has increased by 25% compared to last year, according to data released by the Insolvency Service last week.
Across England and Wales, the Insolvency Service said there were 88,390 registered breathing spaces in 2023, including 86,928 standard breathing spaces and 1,462 registered mental health breathing spaces. Mental health crisis leave is available to people receiving treatment for a mental health crisis and period is the treatment period for the person’s mental health crisis plus 30 days.
What to do if you haven’t received your cost of living payments payment
If you expected your next living expenses payment and didn’t receive it. You must report to the department . Before reporting a missing payment, check your bank, building association, credit union account or Payment Exception Receipt Service slip. Payment is separate from performance.
What are the other benefits of winter?
There are three main assistance programs available to people during the winter cold snap.
Cold Weather Payments
Due to the cold weather earlier this year, many zip codes were subject to Cold Weather Payments. If you live in an area where temperatures have been near freezing for more than seven days, you’re entitled to £25 for every seven days of cold weather. In Scotland, this system has recently been replaced by winter heating payments.
Warm Home Discount
If you’re on a low income and have high energy bills, you can receive a lump sum of £150 to help pay off your bills. You may also qualify if you receive the guaranteed credit component of the Pension Credit. This discount applies to electricity bills from October 2023 to March 2024. For applicants in Scotland, the system works a little differently.
You would have received a letter in January 2024 when you may be eligible. If not, you must contact the DWP by 29 February 2024.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you are over state pension age (66 years) and live in the UK, you are automatically entitled to this payment. The discount will take your heating bill from £250 to £600. If you are currently receiving national pension benefits, there is no need to apply. If not, you may need to submit an application. The discount amount will be automatically credited to account.