As the cost of living crisis continues, more much-needed financial help for those on low incomes is on its way.
With energy bills still high, and council tax and water bills having risen back in April – plus the cost of phones and broadband going up – many households are feeling the squeeze.
A raft of new Cost of Living Payments are due over the course of 2023/24, with the first having been rolled out earlier this year.
But when can you expect the second payment?
Here’s all you need to know.
The second Cost of Living Payment of £300 will start arriving in bank accounts from Tuesday, October 31 2023.
Eligible households on means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or tax credits will receive payment from the DWP between October 31 and November 19, it’s been confirmed.
Those who only get tax credits and qualify that way will be paid by HMRC from November 10 to November 19.
Confirmation comes after much speculation, though money expert Martin Lewis called it back in January – when he predicted a October/November date for the support payment to arrive.
Following this second payment, a third Cost of Living Payment of £299 is set to arrive sometime in early 2024.
The three payments, totalling £900, were announced by the Chancellor in his Autumn statement back in late 2022 – and are expected to reach more than eight million households, according to the DWP.
Those eligible will be receiving at least one of the following benefits:
This money is paid directly into bank accounts and there is no need to apply for it at all. If you’re eligible, you should receive it automatically.
The first of the three Cost of Living Payments was rolled out between late April through to mid May.
Those eligible for the helping hand should have received £301 between April 25 and May 17.
HMRC confirmed that the one million UK families who receive tax credits and no other benefits should have received their first payment between May 2 and May 9.
If you’re eligible, it should have been paid to you the way you usually receive your benefits or tax credits, with a banking reference of ‘DWP COL’ or ‘HMRC COL’ respectively.
Here is a breakdown of the other payments on the way in the next few months…
More than six million disabled people who are in receipt of an ‘eligible disability benefit’ should have received a one-off payment of £150.
Most people will have been paid their £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment automatically between June 20 and July 4.
You must have received a payment of one of these benefits for April 1, 2023 to get the Disability Cost of Living Payment.
Your payment might come later than the dates given above if, for example, you’re awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you change the account your benefit is paid into.
You will still be paid the Cost of Living Payment automatically.
Any pensioners who were entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment – that’s anyone born before September 26, 1956 – will receive an additional amount of £300 per household this winter.
The £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will be made during the winter of 2023/4.
All these Cost of Living Payments will be tax-free, will not impact any existing benefits, and won’t count towards the government’s benefit cap.
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