Millions of people have started to receive their £299 final cost of living payment. The payments will be issued to those eligible across the country from this month – between February 6 to 22.

However, a loophole means some people may miss out on the payment despite seemingly being eligible.

To be eligible, Britons would have had to be receiving certain benefits during the qualifying date November 13, 2023 to December 12, 2023.

The DWP benefits that qualify include Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

A little-known loophole could stop individuals from getting a £299 cost of living payment.

Britons will not eligible for the Cost of Living payment if their benefit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying period or their tax credits entitlement for the tax year is below £26.

That is except if one of the following applies:

• your entitlement reduced to £0 for other reasons, such as payments of rent to your landlord or for money that you owe or
• you had a hardship payment because you got a sanction and could not pay rent, heating, food or hygiene needs.

People will be eligible for £299, if they were on Universal Credit and got a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of any amount over 1p for an assessment period that ended between November 13, 2023, to December 12, 2023, charity Turn2Us explained.

Claimants will also be eligible if they were on another qualifying benefit and they got any amount of payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of that benefit between November 13, 2023, to December 12, 2023.

Individuals do not need to claim the cost of living support payment. It is paid automatically if they have qualified for it.

The money will be automatically credited into the bank accounts of those who qualify for the tax-free payment. The payment is made separately from their benefit payments.

The payment reference will be the recipient’s National Insurance number followed by DWP COL or HMRC COLS.

If someone has not received the payment, but they are entitled to it, they will be able to report the missing payment online from February 23, 2024.

The DWP is also encouraging low-income pensioners not already receiving pension credit to check their eligibility.

Pension Credit can be backdated for three months. This means people have until March 5, 2024 to put in an application for Pension Credit and be entitled to the third instalment os the Cost of Living payment, Turn2Us goes on to explain on its website.