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When is the deadline for receiving the second instalment of £650 cost of living payment?

File photo dated 19/09/13 of a person using a central heating thermostat, as closing windows, turning the heating off, and using log burners to cut energy bills will make people more vulnerable to health risks and accelerate infection spread, a leading expert has said.
Those eligible for the government cost of living payment will start receiving £324 from Tuesday. (PA)

More than eight million people on low incomes receiving certain benefits start to receive the second instalment of a government cost of living payment from Tuesday.

The £324 payment will go directly into people's bank accounts from 8 November, following a first grant of £326 that was paid earlier this year.

The total £650 payment is designed to help people across the UK on certain benefits pay for rising energy bills as the country grapples with a cost of living crisis.

The payment, for those on benefits such as universal credit and pension credit, is the largest financial aid from the government for energy bills.

When is the deadline to receive the cost of living payment?

The £324 payment will be made into bank accounts between today and 23 November, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said.

The department said on Tuesday: "Over eight 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.

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"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."

Who is eligible for the cost of living support?

People who are eligible for the £324 payment from today include those on universal credit, income-based jobseekers allowance (JSA), income-related employment and support allowance (ESA), income support and pension credit.

The DWP says 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.

File photo dated 03/02/22 of an online energy bill. Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg is to set out details of a major Government support package for businesses - running to tens of billions of pounds - to ease the pain of soaring energy bills through the winter. Issue date: Wednesday September 21, 2022.
Millions of Britons are to receive the second instalment of a cost of living payment this month to help pay for energy bills. (PA)

They have until 18 December to submit a valid claim for pension credit, which could entitle them to the payment.

In addition, those who are not on a qualifying DWP benefit may still be eligible, as HMRC are also making payments to more than a million people who receive working tax credit or child tax credit and no other eligible benefits.

This will be paid between 23 and 30 November and those eligible do not need to contact the government or apply for the payment.

What if I don't receive the £324 payment by 23 November?

People should check their bank accounts. 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”.

People who think they are entitled to the payment but haven't received it after the deadline has passed should contact the DWP office that normally pays their benefit or tax credits, or report it online on the DWP website.

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