Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cost of living payments are outstanding and are due to be paid throughout October 2022.

The Department for Work and Pensions has published management information on the total number of means-tested benefit Cost of Living Payments made and disability Cost of Living Payments made. As of 8 September 2022, 8,400,000 means-tested benefits Cost of Living payments, first payment, had been made. As of 30 September 2022, 6,000,000 disability Cost of Living payments, first payment, had been made.

The information which will be updated as new payments can be found here:

Cost of Living Payment management information – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The timetable for when cost of living payments are made is published here: Cost of Living Payment – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It is not possible to determine how many people are due a Cost of Living Payment, as entitlement may not have been established at the time the payments were made. We will periodically make payments to people who have later been found to be eligible and have not yet received a payment. The payments will continue to be made automatically in the same way the qualifying benefit or tax credit is paid.