MORE THAN one-quarter of households across Warrington are set to receive hundreds of pounds in 'cost of living payments' from the government.

Figures show that 21,900 households in Warrington will qualify for the payments - which makes up 25.7 per cent of the 85,100 occupied households in the town.

The households that qualify for payments are those that receive benefits such as jobseekers' allowance, child tax credits, or universal credit - and those households will qualify automatically.

Warrington Guardian: The payments are intended to help those most vulnerable with the cost of living crisisThe payments are intended to help those most vulnerable with the cost of living crisis

This means that between July 14 and the end of the month, thousands of homes are set to receive the payments from the government, which will automatically be sent into their bank accounts.

There will be an initial payment of £326 that will arrive before the end of the month, followed by £324 that will be sent by the government in Autumn - bringing the total cost of these payments to £650 per household.

This is expected to mean that more than £14 million will be sent to households across Warrington, by Autumn.

Individuals claiming disability benefits will be paid an additional £150 in Autumn, totalling £2,910,000 across the 19,400 disabled individuals that the Department for Work and Pensions records in the town.

The plans have received criticism, with some saying the payments might not reach those who need them by the end of the month.

Director of Poverty Alliance, Paul Kelly, said: "We can’t allow any delays to cost of living support packages.

"People want a society where we have compassion for each other, founded on a shared belief in justice.

"We need a government that’s committed to putting those ideals into urgent action to help the growing number of people facing hardship and struggling to get by."

Boris Johnson said: "Just as we looked after people during lockdown, we will help them get through these tough economic times.

"Today’s payment is the signal to millions of families that we are on their side and we have already promised more cash in the Autumn, alongside other measures to support the vulnerable and ease the burden."