From September 20, six million people in Britain will receive a one-off £150 disability payment to help with the cost-of-living crisis.
The UK government has said people being paid a qualifying disability benefit will be paid today, but most of those eligible will receive their money by the beginning of October.
People who may be eligible for the payment are people already receiving: a disability allowance, personal independence payment, attendance allowance, Scottish disability benefits, armed forces independence payment, constant attendance allowance or the war pension mobility supplement.
The money will go straight into people’s bank accounts and is not means-tested.
However, if you receive the disability payment, but are later found not eligible, you may have to pay it back according to the government website.
The extra one-off payment is on top of Prime Minister Liz Truss’ plans to freeze the energy price cap, which she announced earlier this month.
However, there are concerns that £150 will not be enough sufficient support for people with a disability.
James Taylor, Director of Strategy at Scope has said: ‘Life costs more when you’re disabled, so the £150 put forward by the government won’t touch the sides.’
He added: ‘Even with freezing the price cap, energy bills will have doubled in a year.
‘Scope has been inundated with calls from disabled people who don’t know how they will keep warm this winter.’
Citizens Advice Chief, Dame Clare Moriarty has also said the support that has been announced for disabled people is ‘rapidly being gobbled up by spiralling prices.’
She added: ‘More must be done to prevent desperate situations this winter, like people turning off vital equipment or wrapping themselves in blankets to keep warm.’
Photo by Josh Appel