Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment

Change description : 2025-05-06 11:21:00: Added note to say DWP are not planning to make any more Cost of Living Payments. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-02-23 20:59:57.791579746 +00:00..2025-05-06 10:23:10.707837415 +00:00

Guidance

Cost of Living Payments 20222023 to 2024

Guidance on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living from 2022 to 2024 if youyou’re were entitled to certain benefits or tax credits.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
13 March 2023
Last updated
623 MayFebruary 20252024 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

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You may havebe beenable entitledto get up to 5 payments to help with the cost of living if youyou’re were getting certain benefits or tax credits on certain dates between 2022 and 2024.credits.

You do not need to applyapply. for these payments. If you’re eligible, you’reyou’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits. This includes if you’re found to be eligible at a later date.

If you have had a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, payment, this might be a scam.

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

If you have received a Cost of Living Payment, but we later find that you were not eligible for it, you may have to pay it back.

Low income benefits and tax credits Cost of Living Payment eligibility

You may havebe been entitled to up to 3 Cost of Living Payments of £326, £324, £301, £300 and £299 if you gotget any of the following benefits or tax credits on certain dates:

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

The payment will be made separately from your benefit payments.

You will not get a payment if you wereare only getting New Style ESA, contributory ESA, or New Style JSA.

Universal

If Credityou eligibilityhave anda paymentjoint dates

Amountclaim ofon paymentCostthe ofqualifying Livingdates, Payment eligibilityPayment dates
£299You were entitled to a single payment of Universal£301, Credit£300 forand an£299 assessmentwill periodbe thatsent endedusing in the periodsame 13payment Novembermethod 2023used tobetween 12these Decemberdates, 2023Betweenif 6you’re Februaryeligible.

£299 andCost 22of FebruaryLiving 2024Payment foreligibility

Universal most people

£300Credit

You wereare entitledeligible tofor athe paymentCost of UniversalLiving CreditPayment forof an£299 assessmentif periodyou thatwere endedentitled into thea periodpayment 18(or Augustlater 2023found to 17be September 2023

Between 31 October and 19 November 2023 for most people
£301You were entitled to a paymentpayment) of Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 2613 JanuaryNovember 2023 to 2512 FebruaryDecember 2023Between2023.

Income-based JSA, 25income-based ESA, AprilIncome Support and 17Pension May 2023 for most people

£324Credit

You wereare entitledeligible tofor athe paymentCost of UniversalLiving CreditPayment forof an£299 assessmentif periodyou thatwere endedentitled into thea periodpayment 26(or Augustlater 2022found to 25be September 2022

Between 8 and 23 November 2022 for most people
£326You were entitled to a paymentpayment) of Universalincome-based JSA, Creditincome-related ESA, forIncome anSupport assessmentor periodPension thatCredit endedfor any day in the period 2613 AprilNovember 20222023 to 2512 MayDecember 2022Between2023.

You 14are andalso 31eligible Julyif 2022you forare mostentitled people

Yourto paymentone mightof comethese later,benefits for exampleany ifday you’reduring awardedthis aperiod qualifyingbut benefit at a later date or you changeddo thenot accountreceive youra benefit waspayment paidbecause into.your Youentitlement willis stillbetween be1 paidpenny theand Cost9 of Living Payment automatically.pence.

Income-based

Tax JSA,credits

You income-basedare ESA,eligible Incomefor Supportthe and Pension Credit eligibility and payment dates

Amount of paymentCost of Living Payment eligibilityPaymentof dates
£299You wereif entitledyou toreceived a payment of thetax benefitcredits for any day in the period 13 November 2023 to 12 December 2023Between2023, 6or Februaryif andyou 22later Februaryreceive 2024a payment for mostany people
£300Youday werein entitledthat toperiod.

£300 aCost payment of theLiving benefitPayment foreligibility

Universal anyCredit

You dayare ineligible for the periodCost 18of AugustLiving 2023Payment toof 17£300 Septemberif 2023

Betweenyou 31were Octoberentitled andto 19a Novemberpayment 2023(or forlater mostfound people
£301Youto werebe entitled to a paymentpayment) of theUniversal benefitCredit for anyan dayassessment period that ended in the period 2618 JanuaryAugust 2023 to 2517 FebruarySeptember 2023Between2023.

Income-based JSA, 25income-based ESA, AprilIncome Support and 17Pension May 2023 for most people

£324Credit

You wereare entitledeligible tofor athe paymentCost of theLiving benefitPayment forof any£300 dayif inyou thewere periodentitled 26 August 2022 to 25a Septemberpayment 2022

Between(or 8later andfound 23to Novemberbe 2022entitled forto mosta people
£326Youpayment) wereof entitledincome-based JSA, toincome-related ESA, aIncome paymentSupport ofor thePension benefitCredit for any day in the period 2618 AprilAugust 20222023 to 2517 MaySeptember 2022Between 14 and 31 July 2022 for most people
2023.

You’reYou are also eligible if you wereare entitled to income-basedone JSA,of income-basedthese ESA,benefits Income Support or Pension Credit for any day during thethis eligibility period but you diddo not receive a benefit payment because your entitlement wasis between 1 penny and 9 pence.

Tax credits

YourYou paymentare mighteligible come later, for example if you’re awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you changed the account your benefit was paid into. You will still be paid the Cost of Living Payment automatically.

Tax credits eligibility and payment dates

Amount of paymentCost£300 ofif Livingyou Payment eligibilityPayment dates
£299You received a payment of tax credits infor respect of any day in the period 1318 NovemberAugust 2023 to 1217 DecemberSeptember 2023Between2023, 16or Februaryif andyou 22later Februaryreceive 2024a payment for mostany people
£300Youday receivedin athat paymentperiod.

£301 Cost of taxLiving creditsPayment ineligibility

Universal respectCredit

You ofare anyeligible dayfor in the periodCost 18of AugustLiving 2023Payment toof 17£301 Septemberif 2023

Betweenyou 10were Novemberentitled andto 19a Novemberpayment 2023(or forlater mostfound people
£301Youto receivedbe entitled to a paymentpayment) of taxUniversal creditsCredit infor respectan ofassessment anyperiod daythat ended in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023Between2023.

Income-based JSA, 2income-based ESA, MayIncome Support and 9Pension MayCredit

You 2023are eligible for mostthe people

£324YouCost receivedof aLiving paymentPayment of tax£301 creditsif inyou thewere periodentitled 26to Augusta 2022payment to(or 25later Septemberfound 2022Betweento 23be andentitled 30to Novembera 2022payment) forof mostincome-based JSA, people
£326Youincome-related ESA, receivedIncome aSupport paymentor ofPension taxCredit creditsfor any day in the period 26 AprilJanuary 20222023 to 25 MayFebruary 2022Between 2 and 7 September 2022 for most people
2023.

IfYou youare werealso gettingeligible bothif Childyou Taxare Credit and Working Tax Credit, you’re entitled to aone Cost of Livingthese Paymentbenefits for Childany Taxday Creditduring only,this paidperiod by HMRC.

Ifbut you weredo gettingnot taxreceive credits from HMRC and a low income benefit from DWP,payment youbecause cannotyour getentitlement ais Costbetween of1 Livingpenny Paymentand from9 both HMRC and DWP. You will usually be paid by DWP only.pence.

Your

Tax payment might come later, for example if you’re awarded tax credits at a later date or you changed the account your tax credits were paid into.

You willare stilleligible befor paid the Cost of Living Payment automatically.

Jointof claims

If£301 if you hadreceived a jointpayment claimof ontax thecredits qualifyingfor dates,any you’reday entitledin tothe aperiod single26 paymentJanuary of2023 £326,to £324,25 £301,February £3002023, andor £299,if sentyou bylater thereceive samea payment method used for yourany benefitday orin taxthat credits between these dates.period.

When you arewill not be eligible: DWP benefits

You arewill not be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if your benefit wasis reduced to £0 for the qualifying period. This is sometimes called a ‘nil award’.

Reasons your benefit may be reduced to £0 include:

  • you got more than one payment of earnings in your Universal Credit assessment period
  • your or your partner’s earnings went up
  • your or your partner’s savings went up
  • you started getting another benefit
  • you got a ‘sanction’ because you did not do something you agreed in your claimant commitment

You may still be eligible for a Cost of Living Payment if your benefit wasis reduced to £0 and one of the following applies:

  • money was taken off your benefit for other reasons, such as payments of rent to your landlord or for money that you owedowe
  • you had a hardship payment because you could not pay for rent, heating, food or hygiene needs

When you arewill not be eligible: tax credits

You arewill not be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if your tax credits entitlement for the tax year is below £26.

Disability Cost of Living Payment eligibility

Youdates mayfor havelow beenincome entitledbenefits toand 2tax Disabilitycredits Cost of Living PaymentsPayment

Amount of £150paymentYour ifbenefit youor weretax gettingcreditsPayment anydates
£301Universal ofCredit
Income-based JSA
Income-based ESA
Income theSupport
Pension followingCredit		Between benefits25 onApril certainand dates:

  • Attendance17 Allowance
  • ConstantMay Attendance2023 Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance for adults
  • Disabilitymost Livingpeople
£301Tax Allowancecredits forand children
  • Personalno Independenceother Payment
  • Adultlow Disabilityincome Paymentbenefit
    		• Between (in2 Scotland)
  • ChildMay Disabilityand Payment9 (inMay Scotland)
  • Armed2023 Forcesfor Independencemost Payment
  • Warpeople
    • £300Universal Credit
    Income-based JSA
    Income-based ESA
    Income Support
    Pension MobilityCredit    		Between Supplement

    Disability31 CostOctober ofand Living19 PaymentNovember eligibility2023 andfor paymentmost dates

    people income benefit
    Disability£300Tax Costcredits ofand Livingno Paymentother eligibility Paymentlow dates
    YouBetween received10 aNovember paymentand of19 oneNovember of2023 thesefor benefitsmost forpeople
    £299Universal 1Credit
    Income-based JSA
    Income-based ESA
    Income AprilSupport
    Pension 2023Credit    		 Between 206 JuneFebruary 2023 and 422 JulyFebruary 20232024 for most people
    You£299Tax receivedcredits aand paymentno ofother onelow ofincome these benefits for 25 May 2022benefit Between 2016 SeptemberFebruary 2022 and the22 beginningFebruary of2024 October 2022 for most people

    If you’re getting both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive a Cost of Living Payment for Child Tax Credit only, which will be paid by HMRC.

    If you’re getting tax credits from HMRC and a low income benefit from DWP, you cannot get a Cost of Living Payment from both HMRC and DWP. You will usually be paid by DWP only.

    Your payment might come later, for example if you’re awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you changedchange the account your benefit isor tax credits are paid into. You will still be paid the Cost of Living Payment automatically.

    If you have received a Cost of Living Payment, but we later find that you were not eligible for it, you may have to pay it back.

    This guidance will be updated with the payment dates before each payment starts.

    Disability Cost of Living Payment eligibility

    You may be entitled to a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 if you’re getting any of any of the following benefits:

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

    You must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) of one of these benefits for 1 April 2023 to get the Disability Cost of Living Payment.

    If you were getting a qualifying benefit from the Ministry of Defence and a qualifying benefit from DWP, you will get a Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP only.

    If you receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment, but we later find that you were not eligible for it, you may have to pay it back.

    Guidance on the Disability Cost of Living Payment is also available in easy read format. format. Disability Cost of Living Payment easy read (PDF, 2.45 (PDF, MB, 82.45 pages)MB, 8 pages)

    ReportPayment adates missingfor the Disability Cost of Living Payment

    Most people shouldwere havepaid receivedthe their£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.Payment automatically between 20 June 2023 and 4 July 2023.

    ContactPayments thewere officemade thatto payspeople yourwho were getting a qualifying disability benefit orfrom DWP before taxpayments creditsto people who were getting a qualifying benefit from the Ministry of Defence.

    Your payment might come later, for example if youyou’re thinkawarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you werechange eligiblethe foraccount your benefit is paid into. You will still be paid the Cost of Living Payment automatically.

    Report a missing Cost of Living Payment

    You can report a missing Cost of Living Payment if you think you should have had one of the following payments but you cannot see it in your bank, building society or credit union account.account:

    Pensioner
    • £301 paid between 25 April 2023 and 17 May 2023 for most people
    • £300 paid between 31 October and 19 November 2023 for most people
    • £299 paid between 6 February and 22 February 2024 for most people
    • £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment

    If youpaid werebetween entitled20 toJune a2023 Winterand Fuel4 PaymentJuly 2023 for wintermost 2022people

    toReport 2023a ormissing winterCost 2023of toLiving 2024,Payment you

    Do willnot havereport gotthe ansame extramissing £150payment ormore £300than paidonce. withWe yourwill normalreply payment.to Thisyou wasas insoon additionas towe anycan.

    Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

    If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024, you gotwill get an extra £150 or £300 paid with your benefitnormal orpayment taxfrom credits.November 2023.

    TheThe full full amount of Winter Fuel Payment (including the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment)Payment) you youwill gotget dependedfor winter 2023 to 2024 depends on when you were born and your circumstances:circumstances during the qualifying dates.

    Payments in 2022 in separate guidance.

    Other help

    Find out what other benefits and financial support you might be able to get to help with your living costs.

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 March 2023

    Last updated 623 MayFebruary 2025 + show hide all updates" href="#full-history">+ show all updates

      2. Added note to say DWP are not planning to make any more Cost of Living Payments.

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    Contents

    Update history

    2025-05-06 11:21
    Added note to say DWP are not planning to make any more Cost of Living Payments.

    2024-02-23 08:00
    Added guidance on how to report a missing £299 Cost of Living Payment.

    2023-12-13 00:01
    Added the qualifying dates and payment dates for the £299 Cost of Living Payment for low income benefits and tax credits.

    2023-11-20 08:00
    If you were expecting a £300 Cost of Living Payment (paid between 31 October and 19 November 2023 for most people) and have not received it, you can now report it missing.

    2023-10-13 11:42
    Updated timings for the £299 Cost of Living Payment from ‘spring 2024’ to ‘by spring 2024’.

    2023-08-01 09:34
    You can now report a missing Disability Cost of Living Payment by telephone.

    2023-07-05 08:00
    Added guidance on how to report a missing £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.

    2023-06-21 12:00
    Added easy read guidance about the Disability Cost of Living Payment.

    2023-05-19 00:01
    Added the qualifying date and payment dates for the Disability Cost of Living Payment.

    2023-05-18 08:00
    Added link to report a missing £301 Cost of Living Payment for low income benefits and tax credits.

    2023-04-17 11:54
    Clarified that you will not get a Cost of Living Payment for a low income benefit if your benefit is reduced to £0 because you got a ‘sanction’ because you did not do something you agreed in your claimant commitment. But you may get a Cost of Living Payment if you had a ‘hardship payment’ because you got a ‘sanction’.

    2023-01-03 00:15
    Added link to information about Cost of Living Payments during 2023 and 2024.

    2022-11-24 08:00
    Updated for people to report a missing Cost of Living Payment of £324 if they get Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support or Pension Credit. Clarified that the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will be £150 or £300, depending on your circumstances.

    2022-11-08 16:39
    Clarified that you will not be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if your Universal Credit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying assessment period. This is sometimes called a ‘nil award’. Reasons your Universal Credit may be reduced to £0 for an assessment period include getting more than one payment of earnings, your or your partner’s earnings go up, your or your partner’s savings go up, you start getting another benefit.

    2022-10-20 11:34
    The second Cost of Living Payment of £324 for people on tax credits will be paid between 23 and 30 November 2022 for most people.

    2022-10-03 18:00
    Published the qualifying dates and payment dates for the second Cost of Living Payment of £324 for people on low income benefits and tax credits.

    2022-10-03 08:00
    Updated guidance to enable people to report a missing £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment if they cannot see it in their bank, building society or credit union account.

    2022-09-16 00:15
    Tax credits claimants can now let HMRC know if they think they should have had the £326 Cost of Living Payment, but cannot see it in their bank, building society or credit union account,

    2022-08-26 15:35
    Updated guidance to explain you’ll be paid the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment automatically from 20 September 2022. Most people will receive their payment by the beginning of October 2022.

    2022-08-25 15:30
    Updated the table showing when you’ll be paid to say that most people getting tax credits will be paid the first Cost of Living Payment of £326 between 2 and 7 September 2022.

    2022-08-16 08:03
    Clarified that for tax credits claimants to get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, they must have been entitled, or later found to be entitled, to tax credits for any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022, rather than they received a payment between those dates.

    2022-08-03 00:15
    [1] Updated the table showing when you’ll be paid to say that most tax credits claimants will get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326 in September 2022. [2] Added that if you receive a Cost of Living Payment, but are later found not to be eligible for it, you may have to pay it back.

    2022-08-01 06:00
    Added link to online form to report a missing Cost of Living Payment for Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Pension Credit.

    2022-07-14 11:47
    Added a warning about scams – you do not need to apply and you’ll be paid automatically. Added clarification about payments for joint claims.

    2022-07-08 15:41
    Added a table to show the amount of the Cost of Living Payment you’ll get and when you’ll be paid if you are on a low income benefit from DWP or tax credits from HMRC. Made other amendments to improve clarity.

    2022-07-05 08:14
    Added that DWP is using a computer program to identify who should be paid and what to do if you disagree with this.

    2022-06-20 11:56
    Find out what other benefits and financial support you might be able to get to help with your living costs.

    2022-06-17 11:56
    Clarified the Winter Fuel Payment amounts if you live with someone and either of you gets certain benefits.

    2022-06-15 12:46
    Added that if you’re on a low income benefit from DWP, most of the first Cost of Living Payments of £326 will be made between 14 July 2022 and the end of July 2022.

    2022-06-15 00:15
    Updated the guidance to to clarify qualifying dates, payment dates, how the payments will be made and how the payments to people on low income benefits and tax credit will be split.

    2022-06-01 08:22
    In the sections on low income benefits and tax credits, clarified when you will not get a Cost of Living Payment. Added how much Winter Fuel payment you could get for winter 2022 to 2023.

    2022-05-26 15:50
    First published.