Millions of low-income households are to be given a second financial boost this autumn to help them meet the costs of rising winter bills.

Those on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, are to be given £324 by the Department for Work and Pensions as part of a package of measures to keep people afloat during the current cost of living crisis.

More than eight million households are expected to be in line for the cash, which will be sent automatically to those registered by the government as being entitled to it, and the money doesn't need to be paid back.

The money is part of a £650 cost of living support package first announced by then Chancellor Rishi Sunak back in the spring for struggling homes.

The first instalment of cash was sent to bank accounts in July and gave people an extra £326 to spend, with a second payment of £324 promised this autumn.

The DWP will pay the money to all households receiving means-tested benefits including Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Pension Credit.

While the exact date that the second payment of £324 is expected to land in people's bank accounts has not been confirmed by the DWP, some reports this week suggest the money could start trickling out from as early as this Saturday - October 1.

This is just days after six million people on disability benefits were told that they too would start receiving £150 of promised extra money to help them through the costly months ahead.

With the second payment expected very soon, the DWP has also started to remind people today, through its social media accounts, to be on the lookout for scammers targetting people with fraudulent messages promising the cash.

Saturday, October 1 is also the first date that money from the Energy Bills Discount policy is also expected to begin being paid-out to homes in England.

Under this scheme every household with a domestic energy contract will get £400 this winter to help them pay rising gas and electric bills, that have also been capped by the government as part of further efforts to make costs more manageable.

The money is coming in six monthly instalments, which for direct debit customers will appear as a credit on energy bill statements and will be sent as vouchers to those on pre-payment metres.

October's amount will be £66, is going to be automatically sent out by energy firms without the need for any claim forms, with only those who haven't received it by the end of the month advised to contact their supplier for further help.