Why have I not received my cost of living payment?

Why have I not received my cost-of-living payment? What time should I get the Universal Credit instalment?

• MailOnline explains what to do if you haven’t received cost-of-living payment yet

The latest cost-of-living support payment to those on eligible benefits will be made by the Government from Tuesday, 25 April, 2023.

It is the first of three payments, which form a total of £900, which will be given to as many as eight million families across the UK.

But what exactly should you do if your cost-of-living payment hasn’t come through from the DWP? 

Read on below for what you should do if you are expecting a payment but haven’t received it yet. 

The first cost of living payment for people on certain means-tested benefits will be made from Tuesday, 25 April, 2023

What do I do if my cost of living payment is not paid?

Although Tuesday, 25 April, 2023 is the first day the cost-of-living payment is due to paid, there is no cause for panic if you have not received it yet.

The majority of those who qualify for the payments will be paid from 25 April. 

However, the final deadline for most benefits to land in people’s bank accounts isn’t until Wednesday, 17 May, 2023, meaning there is a timeframe of just over three weeks in which the money could be paid. 

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: ‘This latest additional payment will be welcomed by millions of families – as will further payments due over the next year.

‘We have continually supported those most vulnerable to rising costs, including through record benefits and national living wage increases as well as these exceptional Cost of Living Payments responding to the global pressures we are facing.

‘We will also continue to deliver on our five priorities, including halving inflation, as this will ease pressure on households currently struggling with household bills and rising prices.’

Why hasn’t my cost of living payment been paid? 

If you receive benefit payment from Tax Credits and no other low-income benefits, then you will be paid between Tuesday, 2 May, 2023 and Tuesday, 9 May, 2023. 

The Government has also said that your payments may come at a later date after the deadline due to other factors.

This could be because you were awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you changed the account your benefit or Tax Credits are paid into – in this situation, the payment will still be made automatically. 

Therefore, you should wait until May 17 to see if the Cost of Living payment has been paid into your bank account.

Commenting on the cost of living payments, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) said the Government are ‘here to help people through these tough times’

The DWP will send payments automatically and directly to recipients’ bank accounts, with a reference of their National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP COL’. 

For example, if your National Insurance number is JT 83 42 97B your payment will be visible under the reference ‘DWP COLP JT 83 42 97B’ on your statement. 

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt stated: ‘The best thing we can do to help people’s money go further is deliver on our priorities to halve inflation and grow the economy.

‘But we’re also here to help people through these tough times, which is why we’re holding down energy bills, freezing fuel duty, increasing Universal Credit, and giving £900 payments to low income and vulnerable families – all in part funded through windfall taxes on energy profits.’

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