Not everyone on Universal Credit will get the £301 cost of living payment from the UK Government being paid this month.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a number of categories where claimants will be ineligible for the cash.

The payment is one of three payouts over the next 12 months for people on low-income benefits.

It has been clarified that people whose benefit was reduced to “nil” during the qualifying period will not get the cash.

The period to be eligible for the first award of £301 is from January 26 to February 25 this year. 

Reasons for a nil award include people who got more than one payment of earnings in their Universal Credit assessment period or if savings or earnings increased.

The government also said if “you got a ‘sanction’ because you did not do something you agreed in your claimant commitment” you will not be eligible.

There are two categories where a nil award will still qualify.

They are if “money was taken off the benefit for other reasons, such as payments of rent to a landlord or for money that is owed”.

Or when someone had a hardship payment because they “got a sanction and could not pay for rent, heating, food or hygiene needs”.

The first £301 payment will be made between April 25 and May 17.