DWP identifies two groups of claimants to get delayed £326 cost-of-living payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued on update on two groups of benefit claimants who will not receive the first instalment of the £650 means-tested cost-of-living payment this month.

So far, more than 7.2 million payments of £326 have been issued to struggling households, according to the DWP. In total, it means around £2.4bn has been paid out to families across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The first payment started landing in bank accounts on July 14, with 99 per cent of those eligible to receive one having done so by July 20. However, the DWP had previously advised that there would be a delay to some payments where people with 'more complex circumstances' would have to wait a bit longer.

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It has now said those who gained entitlement to the cost of living payment at a later date will be paid after July, the Daily Record reports. DWP explained how there will be some cases, such as those who were not entitled for the qualifying period, but then gained entitlement following a successful appeal, that will be paid after July.

For those who only receive either of those income top-ups from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), this will not be paid by the end of July, but instead in the autumn. The department said this was 'unavoidable' and that payments will be made automatically 'as soon as possible'.

DWP Minister, David Rutley MP shared the details last week. He said: "There will be some cases - such as those who gained entitlement to the DWP cost of living payment at a later date - that will be paid after July. This is unavoidable and they will be paid automatically as soon as possible.”

The second instalment -