7 million £324 payments made to families

This means £2.3 billion has been paid out to over 99 per cent of those eligible via DWP across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of the roll-out last Tuesday (8 November).

A further 1 million families eligible solely through tax credits will receive their payment between 23 and 30 November.

Eligible claimants who have not yet received their payment should not be concerned as the DWP expects some payments may take until 23 November to come through. After this date, a GOV.UK page for reporting missing Cost of Living Payments will become available and the DWP will begin processing claims to ensure outstanding payments reach those eligible as quickly as possible.

There are also a small number of cases where an automated payment has not been possible, for example, Universal Credit cases where benefit payments are split between a couple or where the emergency payment system (EPS) cannot recognise their claim details.

This payment is just part of a wider support package the government has provided, with millions of families benefiting from a Council Tax rebate and pensioners across the country receiving winter fuel support as the weather gets colder and disabled people getting help with additional costs they face.

To be eligible for the £324 Cost of Living Payment, claimants must have been entitled to one of the qualifying benefits between 26 August and 25 September with the exception of pensioner households, who may be able to have a new Pension Credit claim backdated.

Pensioners have until 18 December to submit a valid claim for Pension Credit, which could entitle them to the £324 Cost of Living Payment. Anyone can check their eligibility for Pension Credit using the online calculator or by calling the freephone claim line (0800 99 1234).

Even if you are not on a qualifying DWP benefit, you may still be eligible for the £324 payment, as HMRC is also making payments to over 1 million families who only receive Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit. These will be automatically paid into bank accounts between 23 and 30 November.

Those eligible do not need to contact the government or apply for the payment at any stage. Payments will appear on bank statements with a reference including the recipients’ National Insurance number followed by:

• DWP COL for those on DWP means-tested benefits
• HMRC COLS for those on tax credits only

This is the second instalment of the £650 Cost of Living Payment — part of the government’s £37 billion support package for households — with millions also benefiting from the £400 grant to help with energy bills and 85 per cent of households in bands A–D receiving the £150 Council Tax rebate.

On top of this, nearly one in 10 people have received the government’s additional £150 disability payment this autumn and an estimated 8 million pensioner households will receive an extra £300 in their Winter Fuel Payments this winter.