Millions of Disabled people to start receiving Cost of Living payment

More than six million disabled people across the UK are set to receive a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment from this week.

The one-off payments, issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) throughout a two-week window that started on Tuesday, will help disabled people with the extra costs they face.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, said: ‘We recognise that some of the most vulnerable UK households continue to face cost of living pressures, in particular those who are disabled.

‘Our commitment to halving inflation and ultimately getting it back to the 2% target will relieve a lot of financial pressure for us all, but this extra support will help over six million disabled people right now as we work towards that goal.’

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said: ‘The additional costs faced by disabled people mean inflation is particularly challenging, which is why halving it this year and getting back to the Bank of England’s 2% target is our priority.

‘The £150 we’re sending disabled people over the next two weeks is part of a major cost-of-living support package worth just under £100 billion, providing some peace of mind to the most vulnerable in society.’

As the payment is made automatically, those eligible for the support do not need to take any action. The payment reference on bank statements will appear as the individual’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP COL’.

The full list of benefit recipients that qualify for the Disability Cost of Living Payment between 20th June and 4th July are those who receive any of the following:

• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Scottish Disability Benefits (Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

A small number of payments will be made after 4th July, where claimants were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility or entitlement to qualifying disability benefits on 1st April.

This new payment is in addition to the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment that was paid last September. Pensioners will also receive a further £300 payment later this year and people on eligible means-tested benefits will be paid up to two more Cost of Living payments by next spring totalling £900.

However, although this news is positive for Disabled people who may be struggling with the rising costs of living, it comes as the government have just rejected four recommendations, regarding funding, from MPs’ adult care report. On the surface it seems authorities are attempting to help vulnerable individuals as inflation costs continue to rise, but fail to help health sectors during a time of need. 

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