Here’s when people got the disability cost of living payment – and what to do if yours is missing

Disabled people should have received a £150 disability cost of living payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this year. But charities warn this is not enough to help disabled and seriously ill people cope with the cost of living as there are no further payments planned this year.

It was a lump sum of £150, paid to over six million people between 20 June and 4 July. People receiving certain benefits were eligible.

Tom Pursglove, the minister for disabled people, health and work, added: “We understand the additional financial pressures disabled people are facing, which is why we are putting another £150 in their pockets from today.

“This is on top of further cost of living payments for low-income benefit claimants, as we’re committed to providing support where it is needed most.”

Disabled people are disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis, charities have said. A disability often comes with extra costs, with many people having to spend more on energy bills to keep their homes warm and use medical equipment. 

A recent report from the disability equality charity Scope found disabled households face extra costs of around £975 a month. 

This means disabled households would have to find an average of almost £12,000 more a year to achieve the same standard of living as non-disabled households.

Louise Rubin, head of policy at disability charity Scope said:  “This £150 disability cost of living payment offered to people on disability benefits won’t touch the sides.

“We’ve heard from disabled people whose bills have risen to £6,000 a year. Parents are skipping meals so their children can eat. Others are going without food to power breathing equipment.  

“Extra costs continue throughout the year, and we look set to be plagued by sky-high energy costs and inflation for some time to come.

“We need a long-term solution. The government urgently needs to introduce a discounted social energy tariff for disabled people with no choice but to use more energy.”

Scope is calling for a commitment from the government to prioritise tackling the extra cost of disability, the creation of an energy social tariff for disabled households, and action from businesses and regulators to ensure disabled people have fair and affordable access to goods.

But in the short term, making sure you get the cost of living support for which you are eligible is essential for people who need help. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the disability cost of living payment – including whether you are eligible, how to claim it and exactly when it will hit bank accounts. 

Who got the disability cost of living payment?

Around six million people will receive the disability cost of living payment. People are eligible if they are receiving certain benefits. These are the attendance allowance (AA), constant attendance allowance, disability living allowance for adults and children (DLA), personal independence payment (PIP), adult and child disability payment in Scotland, armed forces independence payment and the war pension mobility supplement.

• All the cost of living help available from the government, energy companies, councils and charities
• Here’s when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023

How much was the disability cost of living payment?

The additional payment for disabled people was £150. For disabled people on low-incomes, this payment comes on top of others which will be given to people on means-tested benefits. These will be paid in three instalments this financial year, totalling £900 by Spring 2024. 

The next £300 cost of living payment for low-income households will hit bank accounts between 31 October and 19 November 2023.

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How would I claim the disability cost of living payment?

You don’t have to claim the payment. It was paid automatically into your bank account if you were eligible. 

Any texts or emails asking recipients for their personal details and encouraging you to claim the payment are likely to be fraudulent. 

You find out more about the support you are eligible for on the government’s help for households page or check out our article on all the cost of living help available.

When will I get the payment?

The disability cost of living payment hit bank accounts between 20 June and 4 July. A small proportion of payments were made after this date, where claimants were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility to disability benefits on 1 April.

If you are also receiving the cost of living payments for people on means-tested benefits, you will have received the first £301 payment in spring 2023. The next one, for £300, will be paid in August. Find out more about that here. 

How do I report a missing disability cost of living payment?

If you think you should have had a cost of living payment but you cannot see it in your bank, building society or credit union account, you can report it as missing.

Find out how to report it through the government’s website here. You’ll need your national insurance number to hand.

If you get PIP, DLA or AA, it will ask you to contact the Disability Service Centre.

Contact Social Security Scotland if you get the adult disability payment or child disability payment.

Contact Veterans UK if you get CAA under the war pensions scheme, armed forces independence payment or the war pension mobility supplement.

Contact Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre if you get CAA paid with industrial injuries disablement benefit.

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