The government of Northern Ireland has announced that low-income households will receive a one-time payment of £300 to assist with the cost of living, with payments starting on Tuesday. The payments, which will be issued between the dates of October 31st to November 19th, are meant for those who receive certain means-tested benefits. This is the second payment of three for the 2023-2024 year, with the first instalment of £301 having been released last spring. A third and final payment of £299 is scheduled to be paid out in the spring of 2024.
The payments were created to assist low-income households with the increasing cost of food and energy bills. The payments, which are not taxable, will not have any impact on other benefits or tax credits that they may be receiving. It is projected that around eight million people who receive state benefits or tax credits throughout the UK are eligible for cost-of-living payments, with the benefits varying between £301, £300, and £299.
Individuals do not need to apply to receive the payments, as all eligible recipients will receive payments through the same method in which they receive their benefits payments. Other allowances and payments are also available to assist with the cost of living, such as the £150 disability payment and a £300 payment for persons on tax credits, among others.
Given the increased rise in food and energy bills, the payments were introduced in 2022 to provide additional support to families who already faced economic difficulties. These payments are in conjunction with the £400 Energy Bills Support payment, which was made available to all UK households. With the rise of inflation and increasing prices, it’s crucial that additional support is provided to families and households that require assistance
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