Second cost of living payment from UK Government lands in bank accounts across UK

Nearly 700,000 families in Scotland are being sent their second payment of £326 this year to help with the cost of living.

It is the second of two payments that have been made by the UK Government to support low-income households.

The first payment of £324 was paid out in July this year as part of the Government’s £37bn support package.

The money will be available to over eight million households, which translates to one in four families, on means-tested benefits in the UK.

From Tuesday, November 8, those eligible will have the payment enter their bank accounts.

The payment will be tax-free and will not count towards the benefit cap or have any impact on existing benefit awards.

The Government has explained that combined with other support, millions of families will receive at least £1,200 by Christmas to help ease cost of living pressures.

It is also estimated that one in ten people in the UK will receive a £150 disability payment in autumn.

And millions of pensioner households could receive an extra £300 from Winter Fuel Payments in November and December to help with heating bills.

Just over 100,000 families in Glasgow are estimated to be eligible for the means-tested cost of living payment.

In Edinburgh, there is estimated to be slightly more than 50,000 households eligible.

Families of children who receive free school meals are being urged to ensure they do not miss out on a £260 payment ahead of the Christmas holidays.

The double payment is due to be delivered to families ahead of Christmas.

Social justice secretary Shona Robison urged eligible families to check that they qualify for the payment in December.

“I urge anyone who is eligible and not already in receipt of bridging payments to register for free school meals through their local authority as soon as possible to ensure they qualify for the December payment,” she said.

“We will provided almost £40m in support this winter through the December bridging payments along and while we expect to reach in the region of 145,000 children, we don’t want anyone to miss out.

“We will also open applications for the Scottish Child Payment to all eligible under-16s from November 14 when it will be increased to £25 per eligible child per week, a rise of 150% in less than eight months.”

Robison explained that it is “more important than ever” that families receive all the help that is available.