Disability cost of living payment: dates when £150 benefits top-up will be paid - who is eligible for support?

The extent of the upcoming winter cost of living crisis will be laid bare later this week when Ofgem announces its next price cap for energy bills.

People across the UK are already struggling to manage soaring inflation, which has eaten into salaries and driven up the prices of necessities - including food shopping.

Major bank Citi believes CPI inflation could surpass 18% in January 2023 - it currently sits at 10.1%.

The government has introduced several cost of living payments mostly targeted at supporting vulnerable households.

This package includes a £400 energy bills grant, £650 of support for people on benefits and £300 for pensioners.

Alongside these payments, the government will give out a one-off £150 disability cost of living payment.

But when will this state support be paid out - and who is eligible to receive it?

Here’s what you need to know.

When will disability cost of living payment be paid?

The government has revealed that the disability cost of living payment will be paid out just days before the new Ofgem energy price cap comes into effect.

It will appear in eligible people’s accounts from 20 September 2022.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says the payment should arrive by the beginning of October at the latest.

It comes as the UK is set to find out the extent of the Ofgem energy price cap rise on Friday (26 August).

Most predictions suggest it will climb to at least £3,500 - around 80% higher than the current cap.

The government said the disability support was an acknowledgment of the higher costs disabled people often face for things like care and mobility.

Who is eligible for disability cost of living payment?

The disability cost of living payment is set to be received by six million people, according to the government.

To receive the £150 government support, you have to meet specific criteria set out by the DWP.

People receiving the following disability benefits are eligible:

• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Scottish Disability Benefits (Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

Those who received payments of these benefits either on 25 May 2022 (or backdated to this date) can get the £150 support.

So, if you have just started receiving disability benefits, you could be set to miss out.

People who have had confirmation of their disability benefits for 25 May are set to receive the handout on or very soon after 20 September.

If you are still awaiting confirmation, or are waiting to have your disability benefits eligibility assessed, the process may take longer.

The £150 support will be paid in addition to the other cost of living payments the government has announced for people on other forms of benefit and the universal energy bills grant.

What do I need to do to get cost of living payment?

As with all of the other government cost of living payments, the one-off disability support will be paid to you automatically.

So, you do not need to do anything to get the payment.

There have been several scams that have used the government cost of living crisis support payments to attempt to defraud people.

NationalWorld has written an explainer on how these scams work and what to do if you think you have been caught out.