Those eligible do not need to take any action to get the payout, and there are fears that scammers are taking advantage of the situation by sending them text messages or emails urging them to apply.
Today, millions of low-income Britons will get £324 in their bank accounts to assist with the cost of living problem.
The payments are the second installment of a £650 sum distributed to beneficiaries of Universal Credit, income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), income-based employment and support allowance (ESA), income support, pension credit, child tax credit, and working tax credit.
Those eligible do not need to take any action to receive the payout, and there are worries that scammers are taking advantage of the crisis by sending text messages or emails asking recipients to apply.
The Department of Work and Pensions will never request your personal information via email or text message.
The payment reference on the bank accounts of recipients will be their social security number followed by “DWP COL.” The payment reference for HMRC receivers is “HMRC COLS.”
Previously, payments totaling £326 were made, and this second cost-of-living payment should arrive before November 23.
A small fraction of late payments
The second cost of living payment for eligible households receiving tax credits and no other means-tested benefits will be issued beginning November 23 and should be received by November 30.
In a small number of difficult cases, the DWP stated that it may pay certain households after November 23.
Domestic energy consumers are receiving a £400 discount on their energy bills in monthly installments from now until March as part of the government’s relief package.
Winter Fuel Payments will be increased by £300 for almost eight million senior households.
People cannot be entirely protected.
The Chancellor of the United Kingdom, Jeremy Hunt, stated: “This winter, we have taken quick action to reduce energy costs and handed hundreds of pounds in cash assistance to each disadvantaged household.
“As part of this help, nearly eight million needy households will receive a second cost of living payment worth £324 in their bank account starting today.
Even if we cannot protect people from rising costs, my first objective in the upcoming autumn statement will be to safeguard the weakest members of society as we make the difficult choices required to rebuild our public finances.
Generally, those who are eligible will have been claiming and entitled to payment between 26 August and 25 September, except pensioner families, who may be eligible to have a fresh pension credit claim backdated.
They have until December 18 to complete a legitimate pension credit application, which could qualify them for the £324 cost-of-living payment.
People can determine their pension credit eligibility via an online calculator or a toll-free claim line (0800 99 1234).
