MILLIONS of people will get extra cash to help them get through the cost of living crisis.
Millions on Universal Credit and other benefits are among the most hard-up who will get a £650 one-off payment.
Everyone means-tested benefits will get the cash as part of a package of plans announced by the government today.
That means those on Universal Credit and legacy benefits like tax credits will get the help.
The lowest income pensioners will also get the help, on top of a separate £300 payment going out to all over state pension age also unveiled today.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak promised to tackle the cost of living crisis with help “targeting this significant support to millions of the most vulnerable people in our society”.
Who is eligible for the £650 payment?
Those on the following benefits will get the £650 help, the government has said, known as the Cost of Living Payment.
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
For those on benefits paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the payment will be made in two lump sums.
The first will be made “from July” and a second will arrive in Autumn.
Specific dates for the payments have not been announced yet.
Payments for those on tax credits which come from HMRC will follow shortly after.
Anyone who was in receipt of the payments as of May 25, or who had started a claim and is later successful will be eligible for the first payment.
Eligibility for the second payment will be announced later on, with a second date applying for the later tranche of cash.
The payments will be tax-free and won’t affect any benefits you’re getting.
The £300 one-off payment for pensioners also announced today will be paid on top of the £650 to those who get pension credit.
And anyone with disabilities will get a £150 payment on top too, the government said today.
