Cost of Living Payment

You may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.

You do not need to apply,apply. ifIf you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically.automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits. The payments will be made separately from your benefit or tax credits.

These payments are not taxable and will not affect the benefits or tax credits you get.

Low income benefits

You may get a payment of £650 paid in 2 lump sums of £326 and £324 if you’re getting any of the following:

• Universal Credit
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

Eligibility

YouTo will get onethe paymentfirst fromCost Julyof 2022Living andPayment aof second£326, paymentyou inmust autumnhave 2022,been ifentitled you’reto entitled.

Youa willpayment need(or tolater havefound beento be entitled to onea payment) of theseeither:

• Universal qualifyingCredit benefitsfor onan assessment period that ended in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022
• income-based toJSA, getincome-related theESA, firstIncome payment.

  WeSupport willor updatePension thisCredit guidancefor whenany day in the governmentperiod has26 announcedApril the2022 dateto on25 whichMay you2022

We needwill toupdate havethis beenguidance entitledwhen tothe onegovernment ofhas theseannounced the qualifying benefitsdates to get the second payment.payment of £324.

If you have a joint claim with a partner, you will get one payment of £650£326 forand bothone payment of you,£324 paidfor inyour 2joint lumpclaim, sums from July 2022 and in autumn 2022, if eligible.you’re entitled.

You will not get a payment if you’reyou eligibleget forNew aStyle CostEmployment ofand LivingSupport PaymentAllowance, from HMRC becausecontributory you’re entitled to tax credits.

If you get New Style Employment and Support AllowanceAllowance, or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, unless you willget notUniversal Credit.

When you’ll be entitledpaid

You’ll toget the Costfirst payment of Living£326 Payment,from unlessmid-July you2022 getand Universala Creditsecond orpayment aof disability£324 benefitin asautumn well.2022, if you’re entitled.

If you also get a qualifying disability benefit, you may get an additional Disability Cost of Living Payment.

Tax credits

You may get a payment of £650 paid in 2 lump sums of £326 and £324 if you have an award of any of the following:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

Eligibility

YouTo will get onethe paymentfirst fromCost autumnof 2022Living andPayment aof second£326, paymentyou frommust winterhave 2022,received ifa you’repayment, entitled.

Youor willan needannual toaward haveof beenat entitledleast to£26, of tax credits on 25any Mayday in the period 26 April 2022 to get25 theMay first payment.2022.

We will update this guidance when the government has announced the datequalifying ondates which you need to have been entitled to tax credits to get the second payment.payment of £324.

If you have a joint claim with a partner, you will get one payment of £650£326 forand bothone payment of you,£324 paidfor inyour 2joint lumpclaim, sumsif inyou’re autumnentitled.

If 2022you get both Child Tax Credit and inWorking winterTax 2022.Credit, you will receive a Cost of Living Payment for Child Tax Credit only.

YouIf willyou not get tax credits from HMRC and a paymentlow ifincome you’rebenefit eligiblefrom forDWP, you will get a Cost of Living Payment from from DWP because you’reonly.

When gettingyou’ll a.lowbe incomepaid

You’ll benefit.get the first payment of £326 from autumn 2022 and the second payment of £324 from winter 2022, if you’re entitled.

If you also get a qualifying disability benefit, you may get an additional Disability Cost of Living Payment from from DWP.

Disability benefits

You may get a lump sum payment of £150 if you’re getting any of the following:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment
• ScottishAdult Disability BenefitsPayment (in Scotland)
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

Eligibility

You willmust needhave toreceived havea beenpayment entitled(or tolater receive a payment) of one of these qualifying benefits onfor 25 May 2022 to get the payment.

YouIf willyou get thea paymentqualifying bydisability benefit from the endMinistry of Defence (MOD) and a qualifying disability benefit from DWP, you will get a Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP only.

When you’ll get paid

You’ll get the payment from September 2022.

If you also get a a qualifying low income benefit or or tax credits, you may get an additional Cost of Living Payment.

Winter Fuel Payment

If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023, you will get an extra £300 for your household paid with your normal payment from November 2022. This is in addition to any Cost of Living Payment you get with your benefit or tax credits.

The full amount of Winter Fuel Payment you will get for winter 2022 to 2023 depends on your circumstances.

Other help

Use an independent benefits calculator to find out what benefits you could get.

You may be able to get other kinds of support, including:

• help from the Household Support Fund from your local council in England
• the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales
• a Crisis Grant or Community Care Grant in Scotland
• Discretionary Support or a Short-term Benefit Advance in Northern Ireland