Millions of families across the UK will benefit from a £301 cost of living payment in the coming weeks. The payment is the first of five direct cost of living payments for the most vulnerable households with the total amount of support reaching up to £1,350.

Confirmation of the grants was announced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) earlier this week. Families will receive the first £301 cost of living payment and the £150 disability payment, following on from £1,200 in support for low-income households.

Eligible individuals do not need to apply for payments as they will be made automatically. The exact payment windows and qualifying periods for eligibility will be announced shortly, but are designed to ensure a consistent support offer throughout the year.

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The payment windows will be broadly as follows:

  • £301 – First 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023
  • £150 – 2023 Disability Payment – during Summer 2023
  • £300 – Second 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023
  • £300 – 2023 Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/4
  • £299 – Third 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024

The benefits eligible for the £301 payment include Universal Credit, tax credits and Pension Credit. Millions of other households will be eligible through legacy DWP benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride said: "These direct payments will help people right across the UK over this year and the start of the next, as we continue to provide consistent, targeted and substantial support for the most vulnerable.

"Our wider support package, including the Energy Price Guarantee, will ensure every household is being helped through this challenging period of high inflation, caused by Putin’s illegal war and the aftershocks of the pandemic."

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, added: "High inflation, exacerbated by Putin’s illegal war, is hurting economies across the world and making people poorer. These payments are the next part of the significant support we are providing to people across the UK, with more than 8 million vulnerable households receiving up to £1,350 directly into their bank accounts this year.

"This latest payment will provide some temporary relief, but the best thing we can do to help families and businesses is to stick to the plan to halve inflation this year."

The full list of eligibility criteria can be found on the Government website here.

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