Thousands of Universal Credit claimants have been warned they won’t receive any cost of living payments this year.
The next wave of payments is due to begin in spring, with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announcing £900 of support would be sent out in the coming financial year.
However, not everyone in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible for the payments when the first £301 is paid in a few months’ time.
DWP guidance states that claimants who have had their Universal Credit reduced to £0, referred to as a nil award, in the qualifying assessment period won’t be eligible.
Qualifying period dates for the new cost of living payments have yet to be announced.
The exact payment dates are yet to be announced by the DWP, but this is when to expect each individual payment over the next year:
- First cost of living payment - £301 – Spring 2023
- Disability payment - £150 – Summer 2023
- Second cost of living payment - £300 – Autumn 2023
- Pensioner payment - £300 – Winter 2023
- Third cost of living payment - £299 – Spring 2024
The DWP have also issued a warning to anyone expecting a payment this year.
In a post shared across their social media platforms, the DWP warned people to look out for scammers hoping to capitalise on people confused about the payments.
The post said: “Watch out for scammers targeting people about cost of living payments.”
They reminded eligible claimants that they did not need to apply for the payment or call the DWP, the payments would be automatically sent to them, and they would never ask for personal details via text or email.
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