DWP rejects call to give £650 cost of living payment to people on contribution-based ESA
dailyrecord.co.ukThe Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has rejected a call from Labour MP, Charlotte Nichols, to widen the eligibility scope for the one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment to include people on contribution-based Employment Support Allowance and other non-means tested benefits.
Last month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £15 billion package of further financial support for millions of households across the UK struggling to make their incomes stretch to cover the rising cost of living.
This package is in addition to the £22 billion announced previously, with UK Government support now totalling over £37 billion which means that millions of the most vulnerable households will get £1,200 of one-off support in total this year along with a £400 discount on their electricity bill - and it doesn’t need to be paid back.
The ‘Cost of Living Payment’ of £650 will be made in two instalments - of £325 - for households on means-tested benefits only.These benefits will receive the payments: In a written response to Ms Nichols’ question on June 13, DWP Minister David Rutley MP, said: “The [UK] Government is committed to managing the public finances in a responsible way by targeting the £650 Cost of Living Payment support at low income means-tested households where it is most needed.” He went on to explain that the new Cost of Living Payments are in addition to the £400 of support for energy bills that the UK Government is providing through the expansion of the Energy Bills Support Scheme, doubling the £200 of support announced earlier this year and making the whole £400 a non-repayable grant.He continued: “In addition, individuals may be able to benefit from the disability and pensioner Cost of Living Payments if they are in
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