Extra help for people on the lowest incomes
What help is available for people on low incomes?
People who get means tested benefits will get an extra payment of £650.
Can I get the £650 payment?
You are eligible for this support if you get any of these benefits:
- Universal Credit, or
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)
- Tax credits (working tax credit or child tax credit)
The money will be paid in two instalments.
The first instalment will be paid if
- You are on Universal Credit and got a payment of any amount over 1p for an assessment period that ended between 26 April and 25 May. You can check your payments and your assessment period dates on your online journal.
- You are on another qualifying benefit and you got any amount of payment of that benefit between 26 April and 25 May.
- If you do not get Pension Credit, you should check now if you're entitled to it. Pension Credit can be backdated. This means you have until 24 August to put in a claim for Pension Credit and have it backdated to before 25 May, allowing you to qualify for the first instalment of £326 extra help.
We do not yet know the qualifying dates for the second payment. If you aren't currently getting a qualifying benefit, it is worth checking now if you could be entitled to it and putting in a claim.
How much will I get?
The £650 is split into two payments.
The first payment is for £326.
The second payment is for £324.
How do I claim it?
You do not need to claim it. It will be paid automatically if you qualify for it?
When and how will it be paid?
It will probably be paid the same way you usually get your benefits paid.
The first installment will be paid
- For people getting Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-related ESA or income-based JSA, it will be paid between 14 July and the end of July 2022.
- For people getting Child or Working Tax Credits (and not getting Income Support, income-related ESA or income-based JSA) it will be paid in autumn 2022.