Thousands of North East Bedfordshire households will receive £301 directly from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 25 April and 17 May.
This is the first of three payments totalling up to £900 for those eligible and on means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, in 2023/24. This follows the £650 Cost of Living Payment made to over eight million people in 2022.
There will also be further payments worth £150 for eligible disabled people and £300 for pensioners due later this year, meaning the most vulnerable can receive up to £1,350 in direct payments.
The £301 payment will be sent out automatically and directly to recipients, meaning those eligible do not need to apply or do anything to receive it. The payment reference for bank accounts will be DWP COLP, along with the claimant’s National Insurance number.
Richard Fuller MP said:
These payments will give a financial boost to the estimated 8,700 households eligible for the means-tested benefit Cost of Living Payment in North East Bedfordshire and to the estimated 8,400 individuals eligible for the disability Cost of Living Payment.
Not only are we providing £900 in direct cash payments to millions of the most vulnerable households, we’ve also extended the Energy Price Guarantee to hold bills down until energy prices fall, raised the National Living Wage to £10.42, put an end to the prepayment meter premium and delivered a plan that will more than halve inflation this year, ensuring everyone’s incomes go further.
The full list of benefit recipients that qualify for the upcoming Cost of Living payment are those who receive:
- 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, you need to have been entitled to a payment for one of these benefits between 26 January and 25 February 2023, or payment for an assessment period ending between these dates.
DWP is also encouraging low-income pensioners not already getting Pension Credit to check their eligibility, as they can still qualify for the £301 Cost of Living Payment if they make a successful backdated Pension Credit application by 19 May.
Low-income households are also encouraged to contact their local council to see what support is available for essential food and energy costs through the Household Support Fund. This government funding is delivered through councils who are best placed to identify local need.
More than 6 million people on qualifying disability benefits will receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 during Summer 2023. This includes those in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Disability Living Allowance;
- Personal Independence Payment;
- Attendance Allowance;
- Scottish Disability Benefits;
- Armed Forces Independence Payment;
- Constant Attendance Allowance;
- War Pension Mobility Supplement.
The £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will be paid to all households in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments, in the same way as 2022/23 payments were made.
Below is a summary of who is eligible for Cost of Living, Disability and Pensioner payments – and when they will get paid.
