Almost 70,000 families across Cornwall to benefit from new cost of living payment

Over eight million families across the UK will receive a new cost of living payment from today, including almost 70,000 in Cornwall.

It is part of the government's £1,200 support package this year, for those on the lowest incomes.

Initial automatic instalment for means-tested benefit claimants will be £326, with the rest to follow in a second instalment from the autumn

Tax credit claimants will also receive their first instalment of the cost of living payment from HMRC later this year

Figures show that nearly one in four families across the country will receive the means-tested benefit cost of living payment, whilst nearly one in ten of the population will get the £150 disability top-up.

In Cornwall, 69,000 households in total will receive the payments and it has been revealed how many families in each area of the Duchy will benefit.

Here is the breakdown by constituency:

Camborne & Redruth - 13,000

North Cornwall - 10,900

South East Cornwall - 10,100

St Austell & Newquay - 13,900

St Ives & West Cornwall - 11,000

Truro and Falmouth - 10,100

Work and Pensions Secretary, Thérèse Coffey said: "With millions of the lowest-income households soon seeing the first of two cash instalments land into their bank accounts, we are taking action to directly help families with the cost of living.

"This one-off payment totalling £650 is part of our £37 billion cost of living support package that will put an extra £1,200 into the pockets of those most in need."

The second instalment of £324 will be sent to qualifying low income households from the Autumn. The payments are designed to be deliberately slightly unequal to minimise fraud risks from those who may seek to exploit this system.

The eligibility date for the second instalment will be announced soon. If customers are eligible through receiving tax credits only, HMRC will contact them and issue payments automatically, with the first instalment being made from autumn. DWP will administer payments for customers on all other eligible means-tested benefits, and customers do not need to contact them or apply for the payment.

It comes as part of £37 billion government package to help families with cost of living pressures.

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• cost of living crisis