Latest Cost of Living payment boost for over 9000 Moray families

OVER 9000 families across Moray will receive £324 from the government this month as part of the Cost of Living support programme.

Some 9200 households join around eight million households in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland who claimed qualifying means-tested benefits during the eligibility period and will be automatically paid £324 as part of £1200 worth of direct help for households.

The payments, from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), are made directly into eligible recipients’ bank accounts, with no need for people to apply or do anything to receive it.

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'.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride MP said: “We understand that people are struggling and that is why we’ve consistently acted to ensure millions of low-income families are supported.

"We will continue to act with compassion as we navigate challenging global economic circumstances.

“As part of a wider £37 billion package of support, this latest £324 payment will help the most vulnerable people in our society who are worrying about their finances through the winter months.”

The government’s £1200 support package contains £400 for energy bills that is being paid in monthly instalments to all domestic energy customers between now and March. It also includes a £150 Council Tax rebate for 85 percent 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 eight million pensioner households over the winter.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt MP added: “Prices are rising across the world as we manage the aftershock of Covid-19 and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

"We recognise that families back home are struggling, which is why we’ve taken decisive action to hold down energy bills this winter, and provided hundreds of pounds of cash support for each vulnerable household.

“As part of that support, over eight million vulnerable households – almost a quarter of families in the UK – will automatically receive a second cost of living payment worth £324 in their bank account from today.

“And while we can’t completely protect people from rising prices, my priority at the upcoming Autumn Statement will be to protect the poorest in society as we take the tough decisions necessary to fix our public finances.”

Minister for Scotland John Lamont MP said: “This is another example of the many ways in which the UK government is responding to the challenges associated with the rising cost of living.

"These are unprecedented times but our support package will help ease the burden for the most vulnerable this winter.”

Those eligible to receive the second cost of living payment include people on Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and Pension Credit.

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

They have until December 18 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.

Those not on a qualifying DWP benefit may still be eligible for the £324 payment, as HMRC are 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 November 23-30 and customers do not need to contact the government or apply for the payment at any stage.