Do you qualify for the 2023-24 ‘cost of living’ payments?
Do you qualify? Well, depending on when you receive any of the benefits and tax credits listed below – or a pension – you might. But all depends on when you’re receiving them.
The Conservative government has announced a new set of ‘cost of living’ payments for people on benefits and low incomes, for 2023-24.
People receiving certain benefits or tax credits will be able to receive up to five payments. These benefits include:
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Recipients will get payments of £301, £300 and £299 if they are claiming those benefits on certain dates.
You may be entitled to a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 if you get any of the following benefits on a certain date:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
It would be paid some time during the summer of 2023.
If you are a pensioner entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024, you will get an extra £150 or £300 paid with your normal payment from November 2023.
The full amount of Winter Fuel Payment (including the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment) you will get for winter 2023 to 2024 depends on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying dates.
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024 if you were born before September 24, 1957.
Qualification for the payments is automatic – you don’t have to apply, and if you receive any communications asking you to apply, the government urges you to report it in any of the appropriate ways described here.
The qualifying dates for each payment have not yet been announced – and will not be until they have passed. The government says this is in an effort to “minimise work disincentives and fraud risk”.
Some of us may have trust issues about that.
Very helpful public service post which I’ll share. Its worth pointing out that the Winter fuel Allowance was withdrawn ( in 2017 I think) for pensioners who retired overseas. I retired to Spain 2015, and I can assure you that temperatures in inland areas fall well below zero in Winter and not all those who choose to retire abroad (usually because of a milder climate overall and its cheaper – I could not now afford to live in the UK), have a villa and a boat in a harbour.
Just like any other sensible person, I’m also very sceptical about how and when this will “pan out”.
This winter I lost a much needed £175 as my Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment was dropped forever because of their rule changes, so next winter will be tough.
My 82 year old friend on the other hand with a State Pension and Royal Mail Pension had 3 holidays in the Canaries thanks to Tory “bungs”.
There definitely seems to be some inconsistences here…..