07 February 2024 , 11:04
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Millions of households across the UK can expect to receive a £299 cost of living payment this month - and our map shows how many will benefit where you live.
Households on means-tested benefits will automatically get the payment by February 22 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HMRC - you do not need to apply. It is the third and final payment being paid to eligible households on means-tested benefits, adding up to £900. No further payments of this kind are scheduled - although charities have urged the government to consider more support.
In total, after the latest support package, more than £7.3 billion will have been handed out over three cost of living payments. The biggest chunk of cash is set for London (15%, or more than £1.0bn, including £354.9m this month), followed by the North West (13%, or £929.7m).
Of all local authority areas in the UK, Birmingham will receive the most cash support, a total of £187.9m over three payments to 208,800 households. That means one in two households in the city will benefit (49%). Next is Glasgow (£98.2m) and then Leeds (£89.8m).
But people living in Derry and Strabane are most likely to receive the benefit. Two in every three households in the Northern Ireland district (66%) are set to receive £299 this month, and £900 in total.
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That is followed by Belfast (56%) and then Newham in London (51%) which has the highest proportion of eligible households in England. Find out how many people will benefit where you live by using our interactive map. Simply enter your postcode to zoom into your area.
Households could be eligible for this payment if they are in receipt of benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and older benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support. Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “The economy has turned a corner, and with inflation falling we are providing millions of the most vulnerable households with another significant cash boost.”
UK Government minister for Scotland John Lamont said: “This crucial cost of living payment will benefit more than 680,000 people across Scotland.” Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said: “Over 400,000 households in Wales will be receiving this payment directly into their bank accounts to help them with the cost of living.”
But others have questioned how effective the payments are. Morgan Wild, Interim Director of Policy at Citizens Advice, said: “Increasingly, people coming to Citizens Advice are living on empty, unable to afford their essential costs and finding themselves in desperate situations.
“Our data shows that the cost of living payments do offer some respite to people, but this is short lived. Historically high energy bills, unaffordable housing and other spiralling costs are keeping people in crisis. The government has responded with temporary support but we need more than quick fixes. Long-term commitments are needed to raise people’s incomes and standard of living.”
The Government said it will continue to support vulnerable people with the cost of living from April by uprating benefits in line with inflation by 6.7% and maintaining the triple lock and increasing the state pension by 8.5%, among other measures.
People can check the Help for Households website to see what cost of living schemes are available.