A total of eight million people should now have been paid their £300 cost of living payment. There are just a few hours left for it to go out - and November 19 is the last day.

Now the Department for Work and Pensions has issued an alert saying that from tomorrow, November 20, people can appeal if they have not received the money. If you have been paid it, it should go directly into the bank account in which you receive your benefits.

The money is being paid out to some of the poorest people in the country and is intended to help out with costs of things like fuel and food at this time of year amid soaring inflation and power expenses. This is the second of 3 payments totalling up to £900 for those eligible and on means-tested benefits to be paid out this year.

If you received the money it would appear on your account with the recipient’s National Insurance Number followed by DWP COL or HMRC COLS. If you have not received it and think you should have there is, from tomorrow, an online claim form.

Those eligible for the payment must get at least one of the following: Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit.

To be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment from DWP, you need to have been entitled to a payment for a qualifying benefit between 18 August 2023 and 17 September 2023, or payment for an assessment period, ending between these dates.

Receiving a previous Cost of Living Payment does not mean you will be entitled to a future one. People will need to meet the separate eligibility criteria for each payment

So what do you do if you think you should have received it but haven’t? If you think you should have the £300 payment, but you cannot see it in your bank, building society or credit union account, you can report it as missing.

You’ll need your National Insurance number ready. Also the DWP says that reporting a missing payment, check your bank, building society or credit union account, or your Payment Exception Service voucher receipt. It adds that the payment will be made separately from any normal benefits. To report a missing cost of living payment click here.

A further £299 Cost of Living payment is due to be paid to eligible people by Spring 2024.

You will not be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if your benefit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying period. This is sometimes called a ‘nil award’.

Reasons your benefit may be reduced to £0 include:

  • you got more than one payment of earnings in your Universal Credit assessment period
  • your or your partner’s earnings went up
  • your or your partner’s savings went up
  • you started getting another benefit
  • you got a ‘sanction’ because you did not do something you agreed in your claimant commitment
  • You may still be eligible for a Cost of Living Payment if your benefit is reduced to £0 and one of the following applies:
  • money was taken off your benefit for other reasons, such as payments of rent to your landlord or for money that you owe
  • you had a hardship payment because you could not pay for rent, heating, food or hygiene needs