DWP 150 cost of living payment warning for those on PIP, DLA and other benefits
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Over six million people who are due to receive a one-off 150 cost of living payment have been issued a warning by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The payments will be made automatically to those on disability benefits between June 20 and July 4.
The support is one of a number of additional payments being made amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. However, the government has issued an update to anyone who receives the payment and those eligible are being advised to check, reports Daily Record.
On the official cost of living payments 2023/24 page on GOV.UK, DWP warns that “if you receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment, but we later find that you were not eligible for it, you may have to pay it back”.
Read more: DWP claimants can get loans of up to 812 with no interest to pay for rent, funerals, clothing and travelling
This advisory may be due to statistics published in the new
‘
Fraud and Error in the benefits system’ report which estimates that 410 million (4.9 per cent) in cost of living payments were overpaid during the 2022/23 financial year. The total UK Government expenditure on cost of living payments last year was 8.4 billion.
The report estimates that overpayments due to fraud accounted for 310 million (3.7 per cent) while overpayments due to claimant error and official error were estimated at 60 million (0.8 per cent) and 40 million (0.5 per cent) respectively.
Overpayments relating to incorrectly paid low-income benefits accounted for around 9 in every 10 overpaid on cost of living payments, some 380 million. This was mostly due to 330 million of cost of living payments being overpaid to people incorrectly receiving Universal Credit.
To be eligible for the 150 payment, you must be in receipt of one of the benefits listed below:
Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance for adults
Disability Living Allowance for children
Personal Independence Payment
Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
Armed Forces Independence Payment
DWP Carer’s Allowance rules and how taking a holiday abroad can affect benefits
Full list of DWP benefits that could be affected when you reach State Pension age
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