Payments mark the first half of the £650 Cost of Living payment for low-income families, with the second half coming in the autumn. Additional support for disabled people and pensioners will follow later this year.

The first payments were made on 14 July 2022, meaning over a million families have been paid on average every working day since then.

Just over 100,000 families in Glasgow are believed to be eligible for the means-tested cost-of-living payment.

In Edinburgh, there is estimated to be slightly more than 50,000 households eligible.

Across the UK, more than eight million families will be eligible for the payment.

Work and pensions secretary, Thérèse Coffey, said: “This government said that we would protect those on the lowest incomes, and we have delivered what we said with over 7 million households receiving £326 in the last week. There is more help to come for households, with the second half of the £650 payment arriving later this year and further payments for pensioners and disabled people also on the way.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “I know that people are finding things difficult with rising prices and increasing pressure on household budgets.

“That’s why we’re taking action to control inflation and providing immediate help for households. It’s so important that over 7 million vulnerable households have received £326 direct payments so far and there is also more help to come, with 8 million of the most vulnerable households receiving £1,200 of direct support to help with bills over the winter.

“In total, over eight million families will be eligible for this payment, with around one million eligible because they receive tax credits and no other eligible benefits. These families will receive their first instalment from HMRC in the autumn, and the second instalment in the winter.”

DWP will administer payments for customers on all other eligible means-tested benefits, and no one needs to contact the government or apply for the payment at any stage.

Those who are eligible should look out in their bank accounts for a payment of £326 with the reference “DWP Cost of Living” in their bank accounts. This payment is made automatically, meaning no one has to apply or do anything to receive it.

Eligible claimants who have not received their payment yet should not be concerned, as the DWP expects some payments may take until 31 July 2022 to come through.