• Over eight million people in receipt of benefits will receive an extra £324 this month as part of the Government’s £37 billion package of cost of living support.
• People in receipt of benefits will receive a second Cost of Living Payment worth £324 by 23rd November, and eligible tax credit claimants, on no other means-tested benefits, will receive it between 23rd and 30th November.
• Payments will be paid automatically and made directly to everyone who is eligible, with no need for anyone to apply for the payment.

Henry Smith MP has welcomed that almost one in four families across the UK will receive £324 from Government this month as the latest Cost of Living Payments begin to be sent out this week, including 14,100 families in Crawley.

Over eight million households throughout the United Kingdom who claimed qualifying means-tested benefits during the eligibility period will be automatically paid £324 this month. This direct support is part of the Government’s £37 billion package of cost of living support, including up to £1,200 worth of direct help for vulnerable households.

In addition to means-tested cost of living support, the Energy Price Guarantee will help to keep household energy bills as low as possible – saving the typical household £700 this winter. The £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme will also help every household with the cost of energy this winter.

The payments, starting this week from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), are made directly, with no need to apply or do anything to receive it.

Henry said;

“Households are facing rising living costs in the wake of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and it is right that vulnerable households across the UK, including in Crawley, are supported.

“I welcome the news that more than 14,000 families in Crawley are eligible for their second means-tested cost of living payment worth £324 this month.

“These payments will give families much needed support this winter and protect the most vulnerable in the face of rising prices.”

The Work & Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride, commented;

“We understand that people are struggling and that is why we’ve acted to ensure millions of low-income families are supported this winter.

“As part of a wider £37 billion package of support, this latest £324 payment shows we are committed to helping our most vulnerable manage the rising cost of living.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said;

“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.

“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.”

Notes to Editors:

• The Government have introduced the Energy Price Guarantee to keep bills as low as possible, giving all households across the UK certainty on energy prices. This Guarantee will help to keep household energy bills as low as possible – saving the typical household £700 this winter. This will be done by limiting the amount people can be charged per unit of gas or electricity until April 2023.
• The Government have provided households in receipt of means-tested benefits with £650 in Cost of Living Payments, targeting support at the most in need. Households in receipt of means-tested benefits including Universal Credit and Pension Credit will receive £650 in Cost of Living Payments – this will be delivered in two instalments of £326 in July and £324 in November.
• The Government are delivering the existing cost of living support schemes in full, supporting people through the months ahead. The Energy Price Guarantee is in addition to the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme households will benefit from. The most vulnerable UK households will also continue to receive the already announced £1,200 of support, provided in instalments over the year.