Cost of living payment – updates: First £301 instalment missing for millions today as payments falter

It is the first of three cost of living payments, totalling up to £900

Related: Martin Lewis predicts when £900 cost of living payments will be made

Millions of people across the UK are waiting to receive their £301 cost of living payment due from today.

People expecting to receive the first of the three payments have taken to social media to complain.

One user said: “Well no cost of living payment for me yet. Not expecting mine anytime soon.”

While another added: “People be mocking people like me who are impatient in getting the cost of living payment. Those people are the kind of people who can afford to wait. Well I’m sorry but some of us can’t.”

This is the first of three payments, totalling up to £900, for those eligible and on means-tested benefits, such as universal credit or pension credit, in 2023/24.

Around 8 million households will receive the government assistance that was developed to help people during the cost of living crisis.

The Department for Work and Pensions will send payments automatically and directly to recipients’ bank accounts, with a reference of their national insurance number followed by “DWP COL”.

[25 April 2023 07:53 · Thomas Kingsley]

Millions still waiting for first instalment of cost of living payment

Millions of people across the UK are waiting to receive their £301 cost of living payment due from today.

People expecting to receive the first of the three payments have taken to social media to complain

One user said: “Well no cost of living payment for me yet. Not expecting mine anytime soon.”

While another added: “People be mocking people like me who are impatient in getting the cost of living payment. Those people are the kind of people who can afford to wait. Well I’m sorry but some of us can’t.”

“To no surprise, didn’t get the cost of living payment. Can always count on DWP to be a pain in the backside as per usual.”

[24 April 2023 22:00 · Joe Middleton]

Millions of people to receive cost of living payment on Tuesday

Millions of people across the UK will start receiving a £301 cost of living payment on Tuesday to help with soaring energy costs and food price inflation.

It is the first of three payments, totalling up to £900, for those eligible and on means-tested benefits, such as universal credit or pension credit, in 2023/24.

The first payment will be made between April 25 and May 17. Around 8 million households will receive the government assistance that was developed to help people during the cost of living crisis.

The Department for Work and Pensions will send payments automatically and directly to recipients’ bank accounts, with a reference of their national insurance number followed by “DWP COL”.

[24 April 2023 23:00 · Joe Middleton]

Cost of living crisis? Why we’re ignoring the squeeze and still splashing out on travel

‘For now I’m choosing to enjoy the world instead’: Benjamin Parker talks to the Gen Z Brits who are putting holidays first

[25 April 2023 00:01 · Joe Middleton]

Millions of people across the UK will start receiving a £301 cost of living payment to help with soaring energy costs and food price inflation.

It is the first of three payments, totalling up to £900, for those eligible and on means-tested benefits, such as universal credit or pension credit, in 2023/24.

The first payment will be made between April 25 and May 17. Around 8 million households will receive the government assistance.

The Department for Work and Pensions will send payments automatically and directly to recipients’ bank accounts, with a reference of their national insurance number followed by “DWP COL”.

[25 April 2023 02:00 · Joe Middleton]

When will the cost of living payment be made?

One million families are set to receive a £301 cost of living payment between April and May, HMRC has confirmed.

The payment will be made to those who claim tax credits from HMRC and no other Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.

It is the first of three cost of living payments Tax Credit claimants will receive, totalling up to £900 overall for those eligible in 2023-24.

[25 April 2023 03:00 · Joe Middleton]

What help is available for the cost of living crisis? | You Ask The Questions

[25 April 2023 04:00 · Joe Middleton]

Food inflation soars again – as Britain’s favourite cheese spikes by up to 80%

Supermarkets say dairy products are being hardest hit by inflation, writes Thomas Kingsley.

[25 April 2023 05:00 · Joe Middleton]

‘I save £3,000 through yellow sticker shopping – these 5 tips mean you can too’

A savvy shopper says he saves thousands through yellow sticker bargains and has now shared his top tips so others can, too.

Adam Attew claims he pays 70% less for his food shops by using his sharp eye for deals.

The Londoner, who is from Stratford, credits being a bargain bagger to his parents, with one of his earliest memories including going to Asda in the evenings with his family to find reduced items, even scoring items for as little as 10p.

[25 April 2023 06:00 · Joe Middleton]

Labour calls for rates cut and energy subsidies to ease food price rises

Labour is calling on ministers to cut business rates for small retailers and subsidise energy bills for food manufacturers in a bid to bring down the cost of everyday items on shop shelves.

The party said that food prices overall were growing 50% faster than elsewhere in the G7, putting Britain’s food inflation rate at 19.2% compared with an average of 12.8% among its wealthiest allies.

Figures published this month showed that economic inflation overall had slowed slightly but that food prices had surged at their fastest rate for 45 years.

[25 April 2023 08:15 · Thomas Kingsley]

Government borrowing increases on energy bills support

The rocketing cost of energy bills support and soaring debt interest saw UK government borrowing jump by more than £18 billion in the year to March, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the public sector borrowed £139.2 billion in the past financial year - the fourth highest since records began and £18.1 billion more than in 2021-22, according to official figures.

But the figure was lower than the £152.4 billion predicted last month by Britain's fiscal watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

This comes despite the government forking out £41.2 billion over the past six months to support households and businesses with energy costs.

Sky-high inflation also pushed debt interest payments on public sector debt to £106.6 billion - 47 per cent higher than the previous year as painful rises in Retail Prices Index inflation have increased the interest payable on index-linked gilts.