DWP opens ‘missing payment’ service as seven million people get £299 to help with cost of living
People who think they should have got the £299 cost of living payment but didn't can now report it as missing
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People who think they are eligible for the recent cost of living payment can now report it missing, if they haven’t yet received it.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said people should wait until after February 22 before they report a missing payment.
With this deadline having now passed, those who believe they are owed the payment can report it via the missing payment service.
More than seven million eligible people who get means-tested benefits have received the £299 cost of living payment.
On social media, the DWP said: “If you think you're eligible but did not receive the payment by 22 Feb, you can report this online; there is no need to call us.”
The online service can be used for people who were expecting any of the three instalments of this financial year’s £900 cost of living payment for those on means-tested benefits or the £150 Disability cost of living payment paid last summer.
Users will need their National Insurance number to report the missing payment.
Before submitting the report, people are urged to check their bank, building society or credit union account, or their Payment Exception Service voucher receipt.
The money would have been paid separately to the benefit.
The DWP urges people not to report the same missing payment more than once and says it will reply as soon as they can.
While millions of cost of living payments have been made to those eligible, and the dates for qualifying having long since passed, some may find they could become eligible thanks to backdating rules.
Low income pensioners who claim Pension Credit, for instance, can backdate their claim by up to three months.
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The DWP is urging people to report missing cost of living payments online rather than via telephone
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If they do so before an upcoming deadline, and the DWP finds they were eligible for Pension Credit for any day in the period between November 13 to December 12 last year, they could get the £299 cost of living payment.
Pension Credit applications can be started up to four months before reaching state pension age, and anytime after this threshold.
Applications can only be backdated by three months.
So, to potentially qualify for the £299 cost of living payment, pensioners would need to apply by 12 March at the very latest.