Almost one in four families across the UK will receive £324 from the government this month, as the latest Cost of Living Payments are sent out from today (8 November 2022).
More than half a million households in the East Midlands who claimed qualifying means-tested benefits during the eligibility period will be automatically paid £324 this month, as part of £1,200 worth of direct help for households.
- DWP claimants will receive their second Cost of Living payment by 23 November 2022, and eligible tax credit claimants, on no other means-tested benefits, will receive it between 23 and 30 November 2022
The payment reference on DWP recipients’ bank accounts will be their national insurance number, followed by “DWP COL”. For HMRC recipients the payment reference will be “HMRC COLS”.
I welcome the news that vulnerable families in the constituency of Louth & Horncastle will receive further support this winter. The latest Cost of Living Payments will give families much-needed support and help protect the most vulnerable in the face of rising prices.
I would also encourage pensioners to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit. We know around 25 per cent of people who could claim the extra help do not currently do so, which may mean they are missing out on vital support.
Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride said:
We understand that people are struggling and that is why we’ve consistently acted to ensure millions of low-income families are supported. We will continue to act with compassion as we navigate challenging global economic circumstances.
As part of a wider £37 billion package of support, this latest £324 payment will help the most vulnerable people in our society who are worrying about their finances through the winter months.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt added:
Prices are rising across the world as we manage the aftershock of COVID-19 and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. We recognise that families back home are struggling, which is why we’ve taken decisive action to hold down energy bills this winter, and provided hundreds of pounds of cash support for each vulnerable household.
As part of that support, over 8 million vulnerable households - almost a quarter of families in the UK – will automatically receive a second cost of living payment worth £324 in their bank account from today.
And while we can’t completely protect people from rising prices, my priority at the upcoming Autumn Statement will be to protect the poorest in society as we take the tough decisions necessary to fix our public finances.
Those eligible to receive the second cost of living payment from today include people on:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
To be eligible, claimants must have been claiming and entitled to a payment between 26 August and 25 September 2022, with the exception of pensioner households, who may be able to have a new Pension Credit claim backdated.
They have until 18 December 2022 to submit a valid claim for Pension Credit, which could entitle them to the £324 Cost of Living payment. Anyone can check their eligibility for Pension Credit using the online calculator or by calling the freephone claim line, on: 0800 99 1234.
To find out more visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/324-payment-to-hit-bank-accounts-from-today.