Around six million people will receive a one-off £150 disability cost of living payment from this week.

The Department for Work and Pensions says it expects all of those entitled to the extra cash to have been sent it by the start of October.

Those being paid will be done so automatically, from September 20, promises the government.

People with disabilities often face increased costs because of having to pay for things like care and meeting mobility needs.

However some charities have suggested the money won't be anywhere near enough - among them Scope - which is calling for targeted help for disabled people who they say can face extra costs of close to £600 a month meaning that the £150 cash sum is unlikely to 'touch the sides'.

Those who may be eligible for the payment include people receiving the disability living allowance, personal independence payment, attendance allowance, Scottish disability benefits (adult disability payment and child disability payment), armed forces independence payment, constant attendance allowance, or the war pension mobility supplement.

And to receive this month's £150 lump sum, which doesn't need to be paid back, recipients needed to have been paid one of the qualifying benefits at the end of May to get the money.

More help for households as costs soar

The £150 disability cost of living payment was among a package of measures first announced by former Chancellor Rishi Sunak back in the spring when he came under pressure to address the escalating cost of living crisis.

Also among the promised support, which has remained in place despite changes at the head of government, is two cost of living payments for around eight million households claiming means-tested benefits.

The first of these cost of living payments, amounting to £326 was released in July, with a second instalment of £324 expected in the coming weeks as the weather cools and heating bills increase.

The DWP is paying this money to all households receiving the following benefits: Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Pension Credit.

Pensioners in receipt of a winter fuel payment for this winter are also being given some extra cash to help them keep the heating on during the coldest months. They will be given an extra £300 per household, along with their normal payment, from November.

Energy bills help for all

To help every single household cope with the escalating costs of gas and electricity, a £400 energy bill credit will be given to every home from next month.

Despite fresh plans by new PM Liz Truss to freeze energy bills, as part of efforts to make them more affordable this winter, the £400 planned cash credit remains in place.

The money, which doesn't need to be paid back, will appear as a credit on bills this autumn and help bring down the cost of annual bills which are expected to be around £2,500 a year for the average sized home using an average amount of energy.

Customers do not need to do anything to claim the money, it will appear automatically on energy bill statements once issued.