Cost of living payment

poppy12345

jimhowell11 said:

On a realted note, I wonder if anyone could clarify my entitlement.

In the Q&A with Rishi Sunak article in this site, it states:

‘To qualify for the first payment you'll already need to be receiving one of these benefits (or have begun a claim as of 25 May 2022 for one, which is later successful)’

But the latest gov guidance states:

‘To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either: Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022’

I started a successful Universal Credit application 22nd May 2022 but it now seems I’m ineligible for the payment.

You will not be entitled to the first payment of £326 because your assessment period must end between 26th April and 25th May. As your claim didn't start until 22nd May then your assessment period will not end until 21st June.

You maybe entitled to the 2nd payment of £324 paid sometime in the Autumn but they haven't yet announce the criteria.

Lexi2828

PC2016 said:

I have read and re-read the GOV website and I read the "entitled to a PAYMENT" during the UC period of 25th April to 26th May 2022 - We are paid 4 weekly from income and the dates are during our payment cycle or NO UC mouth I save up for. I had a funny feeling when this was announced that we would be tripped up by this and from the way I understand it, the powers at be will in fact weasel out of paying several hundred people who really could do with this extra help. The MSE page states "entitled to universal credit" the GOV states "Payment". I hope I am wrong but more often that not I am right. On the up side it will be interesting to see if they some how weasel out of paying us the next payment, my early understanding is we should get this payment excluding force majeure.

In the same situation with my partner who is paid every 4 weeks and his double payment has fallen  on the dates which the goverment has used so I am also unsure whether we will be entitled to this 1st payment seems very unfair if you ask me but we shall see I guess

calcotti

OP, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment has been updated.

It now says:

Universal Credit ‘nil awards’
You will not be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if your earnings reduced your Universal Credit to £0 for the qualifying assessment period. This is sometimes called a ‘nil award’. If money has also been taken off for other reasons (such as payments of rent to your landlord or for money that you owe), you might still be eligible.

Looks hopeful.

Lexi2828

I saw this update yesterday as well I took it as we definitely won't get it as we also got a nil award due to my partner getting his pay twice in the assesment period either way if we don't recieve it I will be calling uc as this is what it advises for us to do if we think we should be entitled to it. 

poppy12345

Lexi2828 said:

I saw this update yesterday as well I took it as we definitely won't get it as we also got a nil award due to my partner getting his pay twice in the assesment period either way if we don't recieve it I will be calling uc as this is what it advises for us to do if we think we should be entitled to it. 

How does your partner receive their earnings, monthly, 4 weekly or weekly? If it is monthly and they were paid early then you could have asked them to moved the one earnings to the next assessment period. See link. https://askcpag.org.uk/content/205719/uc-and-double-payment-of-wages-new-rules

If it's 4 weekly then yes, receiving earnings twice does happen and there's nothing that can be done about that. It does mean you won't be entitled to the first payment, even if you ring them.

Lexi2828

poppy12345 said:

Lexi2828 said:

I saw this update yesterday as well I took it as we definitely won't get it as we also got a nil award due to my partner getting his pay twice in the assesment period either way if we don't recieve it I will be calling uc as this is what it advises for us to do if we think we should be entitled to it. 

How does your partner receive their earnings, monthly, 4 weekly or weekly? If it is monthly and they were paid early then you could have asked them to moved the one earnings to the next assessment period. See link. https://askcpag.org.uk/content/205719/uc-and-double-payment-of-wages-new-rules

If it's 4 weekly then yes, receiving earnings twice does happen and there's nothing that can be done about that. It does mean you won't be entitled to the first payment, even if you ring them.

He does get paid 4 weekly and that's why we got a nil award on this particular assesment period but we get a payment the other 11 months of the year, seems very unfair we won't get the 1st payment due to it happen to falling on this assesment period but I guess you win some you lose some however I will still be ringing them as to see if there is anything that can be done, no harm in trying. 

PC2016

Yes the Gov page is now updated to the "nil award" and adds clarity, sadly many will have been singled out by design imo, it would be interesting to do a FOI request to see how many are affected. My next unsubstantiated fear is one would of had to qualify for the first payment to receive the next payment, I am not a religious person but with energy estimates now at 65% May the Deities have mercy on us all.    

calcotti

PC2016 said:..many will have been singled out by design imo,   

I think that's very unlikely. Some people have missed out because of the desire to keep it simple. No matter what rules are applied there will always be people who miss out.

PC2016 said:

My next unsubstantiated fear is one would of had to qualify for the first payment to receive the next payment,..

I also think that is unlikely (but obviously don't know until the guidance is updated).

peteuk

PC2016 said:

My next unsubstantiated fear is one would of had to qualify for the first payment to receive the next payment.

Even though you clearly mention its unsubstantiated, such glib remarks however true the may or may not turn out doesn’t help. 
What about those who loose their job in between payments, or where days late to receive the first payment. 

PC2016

calcotti said:

I think that's very unlikely. Some people have missed out because of the desire to keep it simple. No matter what rules are applied there will always be people who miss out.

I also think that is unlikely (but obviously don't know until the guidance is updated).

My positivity is low at the time of writing, I am not normally a cynical person.

peteuk said:

Even though you clearly mention its unsubstantiated, such glib remarks however true the may or may not turn out doesn’t help. What about those who loose their job in between payments, or where days late to receive the first payment. 

This is a good point, now is a good time for a new Chancellor to ease some minds & I hope further help is announced.