DWP issues new cost of living payment warning to people due money over next few months

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a new warning urging people to “stay vigilant” and protect their personal information, especially if they are due to receive a cost of living payment over the coming months.

DWP took to social media advising people to “beware of fraudsters claiming to represent the DWP or UK Government”.It also reminded millions of people eligible for cost of living payments - £300 due to be paid this autumn and £299 in spring next year for those on means-tested benefits - that these will be made automatically and that “you do not need to do anything to apply”.UK Government statistics show that 8.3 million cost of living payments for £301 were made earlier this year to people in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit from the DWP or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

A further 6.4m payments for £150 were recently made to people claiming disability benefits.An impact analysis of the cost of living payments includes projections of the number of claimants due to receive the next round of support worth £300 in the autumn - and it shows a significant increase.While this is good news for more households across the country, it could also see fraudsters ramping up activity designed to dupe claimants - especially those who have never received a payment, or are still waiting on one - into handing over their personal information.However, the message from DWP on the cost of living payment page at GOV.UK is clear: “If you have had a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, this might be a scam.”Details on how to avoid and report internet scams and phishing emails can be found on GOV.UK here.This will be paid to eligible households receiving the following benefits:This