The extra cash will be paid out from July 14

If we’re on Universal Credit, we’ll get a special payment in July to help us cope with the cost of living.

The payment is £650 in total, paid out in two chunks. The first one, of £326, is paid between July 14 and the end of the month. We’ll get the remaining £324 in autumn but the exact date hasn’t been decided yet.

If we’re eligible, we don’t have to do anything. The cost of living payment will drop into our bank account automatically.

As well as Universal Credit, the cost of living payment is also going to those of us on income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit.

We will receive the money separately to our benefits or tax credits.

How do we know if we’re entitled?

To get the payment, we need to have been getting Universal Credit or the other benefits between April 26 and May 25 this year.

(For Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, this has to be a payment of at least £26.)

And if we claim jointly with our partner, we’ll get the same payments. That’s one of £326 and a second of £324.

But the payment’s not being made to those of us on New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (unless we’re also getting Universal Credit).

More cash for disabled people

And there’s an extra £150 if we get Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (for adults or children), Personal Independence Payment, Adult or Child Disability Payment (in Scotland), Armed Forces Independence Payment or War Pension Mobility Supplement.

This money will be paid out from September. We need to have qualified for the benefit on May 25 this year to be eligible for it.

For more details on payments to help us cope with the cost of living, check out the Quids in! website.