The Department for Work and Pensions has stopped sending out its £300 cost of living payments and issued a new update on what to do if you missed out. HMRC has also brought a halt to its similar payments made to those on tax credits.

The DWP payment to more than seven million households on means-tested benefits - such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - was sent out from Tuesday, October 31 until the end of Sunday, November 19.

Meanwhile, HM Revenue and Customs delivered the payments to another 840,000 people claiming Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit between November 10 and 19.

READ MORE:

The DWP has today updated its option to report a missing cost of living payment for people who think they should have had the cash but did not receive it between those dates.

Using an online form at the Report a missing Cost of Living Payment webpage, you can let officials know that the £300 sum never arrived, along with any of the two previous payments this year. Missing payments that can now be reported are:

  • £300 paid to households on means-tested benefits and tax credits between October 31 and November 19

  • £301 paid to households on means-tested benefits and tax credits between April 25 and May 17
  • £150 paid to people on disability benefits such as PIP between June 20 and July 4

To log the issue, you will need your National Insurance number. But first check through your recent bank, building society or credit union statements, or your Payment Exception Service voucher receipts, for a £300 payment with DWP COL or HMRC COLS alongside it.

The DWP has not given an expected timeframe for a response on whether you will still be getting the cost of living payment. It said: "Do not report the same missing payment more than once. We will reply to you as soon as we can. You do not need to contact us about future cost of living payments. You'll be paid automatically if you're entitled."

The DWP also warned that a cost of living sum could arrive later if you change the account your benefits or tax credits are paid into, causing the initial payment attempt to bounce back. It will then have to be sent again. In addition, those who only recently started claiming an eligible benefit and were able to get it backdated, so that it includes the cost of living payment qualifying period, could also end up getting the £300 after the main rollout has ended.

For people on tax credits who believe they were omitted from the rollout, Angela MacDonald, HMRC's Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, said: "If customers have not received the cost of living payment from HMRC between the published payment dates, but believe they are eligible, they should wait until after November 20 to contact us. This is to allow time for their bank, building society or credit union to process the payment."