DWP stops all £301 cost of living payments in sudden announcement

The first of three cost of living support payments has been unexpectedly halted until next week, the Department for Work and Pensions has said. It is believed just over half of the eight million households due the £301 cost of living boost have received their payment during the roll out earlier this week.

The DWP is thought to have paid out 1.6 million sums of £301 each day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, to an approximate total of 4.8 million claimants. But in a social media message posted on Thursday evening (April 27), the DWP said payments will resume on Tuesday, May 2.

Posting on Twitter, the department said: “The next set of payments will be made on Tuesday, May 2, and we will update again when these have been made.” It also said: “If you’ve not received yours, don’t worry – payments will continue to be made up to May 17.”

Read more: DWP Universal Credit claimants could miss out on cost of living cash after breaking rules

This is likely due to the upcoming bank holiday on Monday, May 1, though today (Friday, April 28) is a normal working day, BirminghamLive reports.

This is the first of three Cost of Living payments to be paid out over 2023/24. The second payment will come in the Autumn this year, while the third is due in Spring 2024. Recipients of qualifying means-tested benefits during the qualifying period will automatically receive the money – totaling £900 for the full three payments – into their bank account.

Qualifying benefits include: Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Pension Credit.

The qualifying period for this payment is January 26 to February 25, 2023. People on Universal Credit need to have had an assessment period that ended between those dates and received a UC payment from it. Those on the other eligible benefits must have received a benefit payment between those dates

The majority of claimants will receive their payment by the end of next week, before the Coronation on Saturday, May 6, the DWP has assured. It further stated that there is “no particular order” to the payout, dismissing claimants’ speculation that it is based on an A-Z of people’s surnames, National Insurance numbers, or on which benefit they receive.

The payment reference for bank accounts will be DWP COL, along with the claimant’s National Insurance number. Those who only receive tax credits will have to wait until May 2 to 9 to receive their £301 payment, which will appear in accounts with HMRC COLS as an identifying code.

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