The UK government is rolling out a significant financial support initiative to help citizens navigate the increasing cost of living. This initiative involves a £900 grant, which you do not need to apply for. This grant is divided into three separate payments, each of a different amount. This method ensures efficient tracking and timely distribution by the government.
Key Features of the Payment:
- Tax-Free: These payments are tax-free.
- No Impact on Other Benefits: They won’t count towards the benefit cap and won’t affect your existing benefits.
If you haven’t received your second payment of £300, an online portal is now open for you to report this. This step is mainly for existing benefit claimants. Newly eligible claimants should automatically receive this payment, even after November 19th.
Reporting Process:
- Visit the Gov.uk website.
- Provide your full name, date of birth, address, and national insurance number.
- Most eligible people will receive their payment within two weeks of completing the form, although delays are possible.
The portal will be open from November 20th to December 11th. After this period, you can report a missing payment via your online benefits journal or by calling the helpline for your relevant benefit.
Payment Timeline: When to Expect Your Money
The second £300 payment schedule varies based on the type of benefit you receive:
- For Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit Only: Expect your payment between November 10th and 19th, 2023.
- For Other Benefits (with or without Tax Credits): Payments should have been received between October 31st and November 19th, 2023.
By November 7th, over seven million people, or 99% of those eligible, had received their payment.
Eligibility Criteria for the Second Payment
To qualify for the £300, you must have been paid or eligible for one of the following benefits between August 18th and September 17th, 2023:
- Child Tax Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Note: Universal Credit recipients might miss out if their eligibility period doesn’t align with their assessment period and pay frequency.
Pension Credit and State Pension Age:
If you were of state pension age between August 18th and September 17th, 2023, check if you can get Pension Credit. You can still receive the second 2023 cost of living payment by applying for Pension Credit by December 10th, 2023, and requesting backdating.
Automatic Payments and Scam Awareness
Payments should be automatic if you qualify. For DWP benefits, the payment reference will be ‘DWP COL’, and for Tax Credits-only recipients, it’ll be ‘HMRC COLS’. Be wary of scam texts or emails; the DWP will never ask for personal details or banking info via these channels.
Looking Ahead: The Third Payment and More
- A third instalment is expected in spring 2024.
- Additional support for pensioners and people claiming disability benefits is also planned.
- Households eligible for low-income benefits can expect up to £900 in three instalments.
- Pensioners above state pension age will receive £300 in winter 2023/24.
- Those eligible for winter fuel payment will receive a top-up of £300.
- Disability benefit claimants should have received £150 from June 20th, 2023.