£324 payment to hit bank accounts

More than 8 million households in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland who claimed qualifying means-tested benefits during the eligibility period will be automatically paid £324 this month as part of £1,200 worth of direct help for households.

Department for Work and Pensions claimants will receive their second Cost of Living payment by 23 November 2022 and eligible tax credit claimants on no other means-tested benefits, will receive it between 23 and 30 November 2022

Payments will automatically be made to everyone eligible, with no need for anyone to apply.

The payment reference on DWP recipients’ bank accounts will be their national insurance number, followed by “DWP COL”. For HMRC recipients, the payment reference will be “HMRC COLS”.

The government’s £1,200 support package contains £400 for energy bills that are being paid in monthly instalments to all domestic energy customers between now and March 2023. It also includes a £150 Council Tax rebate for 85 per cent of all UK households and the previous £326 Cost of Living Payment made by DWP in July and by HMRC in September.

On top of this, nearly one in 10 people received the £150 disability payment in September and a £300 addition to Winter Fuel Payments will go to over 8 million pensioner households over the winter.

Those eligible to receive the second Cost of Living Payment from today (9 November) include people on:

• Universal Credit
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit

To be eligible, claimants must have been claiming and entitled to a payment between 26 August and 25 September 2022 with the exception of pensioner households, who may be able to have a new Pension Credit claim backdated.

They have until 18 December 2022 to submit a valid claim for Pension Credit, which could entitle them to the £324 Cost of Living payment. Anyone can check their eligibility for Pension Credit using the online calculator or by calling the freephone claim line on 0800 99 1234.

Even if you are not on a qualifying DWP benefit you may still be eligible for the £324 payment as HMRC is also making payments to over a million people who receive Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit and no other eligible benefits. These will be paid between 23 and 30 November 2022 and customers do not need to contact the government or apply for the payment at any stage.