How to claim missing £650 cost of living direct payment – are you eligible?
THOUSANDS of households could be missing out on the government’s £650 cost of living payment.
Then chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a giant support package for millions of households back in May.
Among the support available is £150 for those with disabilities, a £400 energy rebate for 30 million UK households, and a £650 cost of living payment to people on certain benefits.
The £650 payment, when transferred to all eligible, will be made to around eight million people.
It is being split into £326 and £324 instalments. Around 7 million people should have already received their first payment – but that means 1 million people are still waiting.
Those on Tax Credits, are due to receive their payment from September.
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Those who should have already received their first instalment are those on:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
The payments to this group were due to arrive between the middle and end of July.
They should show up as “DWP Cost of Living” on your bank statement and will be paid to the same account you normally receive your benefit into – so you don’t have to do anything.
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However, it will be a separate payment to your usual one.
How to claim a missing payment
If you are in receipt of one of these benefits and you haven’t yet received your payment, you can contact the Department for Work and Pensions to chase it up by visiting the government’s website.
Remember that if you’re in receipt of Tax Credits, this payment isn’t due to be paid until next month.
Before reporting a missing payment, you should double-check your bank account, building society or credit union account, or your Payment Exception Service voucher receipt, if you have one.
You might have missed the payment because it’s separate to your normal one.
To report a missing payment, you simply have to go on the government’s website and enter in what benefit you are receiving.
You will need your National Insurance number to hand and your personal details.
The DWP has been contacted to find out what the next steps are after this and we will update you when we know more.
If you’ve lost yours, you can use the government’s tool to find it.
You will be entitled to the £650 cost of living payment if you were in receipt of the eligible benefit payments as of May 25, or had started a claim which was later successful from that date.
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Cost of living payments: what you need to know
Below is a list of all the key information you need to know around the cost of living payments:
- All the key dates for cost of living payments revealed
- Every household will get a £400 cost of living payment to help with energy bills
- See the full list of benefits eligible for £650 cost of living cash
- Here’s free cash you can get if you DON’T qualify for the £650 cost of living payment
- Millions of pensioners will get a £300 cost of living payment this winter
- Disabled Brits will get £150 this September
- Parents can get up to £200 towards school uniform costs