£145 Additional Cost of Living Payment Revealed: Recipients Identified
Learn more about the recently announced £145 Extra Cost of Living Payment and discover who qualifies for this additional support. The article provides in-depth details on eligibility criteria and other relevant information surrounding the payment.
£145 Extra Cost of Living Payment Announced
People receiving specific government benefits are entitled to receive cost of living payments, with a potential of up to 5 payments if they meet the necessary criteria. Importantly, these payments do not impact other benefits and are non-taxable. The recent announcement by the Highland Council reveals a £145 Extra Cost of Living Payment for eligible households.
Who is Getting the Extra Payment?
If your household benefits from Council Tax Reduction and qualifies for specified exemptions, you’re in line to receive the £145 Extra Cost of Living Payment. This additional support will be granted to households that receive a means-tested Council Tax Reduction, providing relief on council tax bills.
Certain individuals are set to receive an extra £145 in cost of living support, including those with severe mental impairment, live-in carers for someone not their child, spouse, or partner, children under 18, and care leavers. Families with Free School Meals eligibility due to low income will also get £125 payments automatically.
For those who believe they meet the criteria but haven’t received the payment, reaching out to the service delivery team is advised. The decision for these additional payments was made during a June 2022 Highland Council meeting, where £3.639 million from the LACER Fund was allocated for flexible use in addressing the impacts of living costs and supporting local economic recovery. Further details can be found on the Highland Council’s official web portal.
What is the Cost of Living Payment?
In the UK, Cost of Living Payments automatically go to eligible individuals, including those receiving income-based JSA, pension credit, working tax credit, universal credit, income-based ESA, child tax credit, and income support. It’s important to note that entitlement to these payments depends on receiving the mentioned benefits and tax credits within a specific timeframe in a tax year.
Payments, totaling up to £900 in three installments (£299, £300, and £301), are made on different dates, as announced by the UK government. If eligibility criteria are not met within the specified timeframe, individuals who received payments may need to return them.
On top of the Cost of Living Payment, eligible individuals can also receive a £150 disability payment and an extra payment for winter fuel, provided they receive a qualifying payment from the DWP. Those entitled to Winter Fuel Payment for 2023-2024 might also receive an extra payment of £150 or £300. The UK Government’s official web portal provides detailed information on the Cost of Living Payment, extra payments, eligibility, payment dates, and other related topics. Additionally, a benefit calculator is available for individuals to estimate their potential government support, including the Winter Fuel Payment.
If you’re eligible for the extra cost of living payment for the winter fuel payment, expect a letter usually in November or October detailing the additional amount you’ll receive.
If, however, you were supposed to get a cost of living payment but didn’t receive it on the due date, make sure to report the missing payment. You can do this by visiting the government’s official web portal.