You may be eligible for up to five cost-of-living payments if you receive certain benefits or tax credits. There is no need to register. 

If you qualify, you will be paid automatically in the same way that you receive your benefits or tax credits. This includes if your eligibility is later determined.

Low-income and tax credits Cost of Living Payment 

You may be eligible for up to three £301, £300, and £299 Cost of Living Payments if you receive any of the below benefits or tax credits on certain dates:

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

The payment will be made in addition to your benefits.

You will not receive a payment if you only receive ESA, contributory ESA, or the new JSA.

If you have a joint claim, you will receive a single payment of £301, £300, and £299 via the same payment mechanism used between these dates if eligible.

Cost of Living Allowance eligibility of £301 

Universal Credit

If you were entitled to a payment (or subsequently determined to be entitled to a payment) of Universal Credit, you are eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £301.

JSA based on income, ESA based on income, Income Support, and Pension Credit based on income 

You are also eligible if you are entitled to one of these benefits for any day during this period but do not receive payment because your entitlement is between one pence and nine pence.

Tax credits 

If you received a payment of tax credits for any day between January 26, 2023, and February 25, 2023, or are subsequently found to have been entitled to payment for this period, you are eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £301.

£300 and £299 in Cost of Living Payments 

Three payments are made to recipients of means-tested benefits, with one payment of £301 made in the spring of 2023. one of £300 paid in the autumn of 2023. one of £299 paid in the spring of 2024.

When you are ineligible for payments

The Cost of Living Payment is ineligible if your benefit gets reduced to £0 during the qualifying period. This is also known as a ‘nil award’. Among the reasons your benefit could be reduced to £0 are:

  • You received multiple earnings payments during your Universal Credit assessment period.
  • You received a sanction’ because you did not comply with your claimant commitment.

If your benefit is reduced to £0 and one of the following is true, you may still be eligible for a Cost of Living Payment.

You received a hardship payment because you could not pay for rent, heating or food necessities. After all, money was deducted from your benefit for other reasons, such as payments to your landlord or debts.

When will you be paid?

If eligible, you will receive:

  • £301 will be paid between April 25, 2023, and May 17 2023, to most DWP benefit recipients.
  • £301 paid between 2 and 9th May 2023 for most individuals receiving tax credits and no other low-income benefits.
  • £300 paid in autumn 2023 by the majority of individuals.
  • £299 paid during spring 2024 by the majority of individuals.

If you receive both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, HMRC will only provide you with a Cost of Living Payment for Child Tax Credit.

You cannot receive a Cost of Living Payment from HMRC and DWP if you receive tax credits from HMRC and a low-income benefit from DWP. Typically, you will only be paid by DWP.

If you are awarded a benefit, your payment may be delayed. You will continue to receive Cost of Living Payment payments automatically.

Disability Living Allowance Cost of Living Payment

You may be eligible for a £150 disability cost of living payment if you or someone in your household of any of the listed 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

To be eligible for the Disability Cost of Living Payment, you must have received (or later received) a payment for one of these benefits on April 1 2023.

Suppose you received a qualifying benefit from the Department of Defence and the Department of Work and Pensions. In that case, you will only receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP.

If you receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment and it is subsequently determined that you were not eligible, you may be required to repay the money.

When will you be paid?

Most recipients received their £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment between June 20 2023, and July 4 2023.

Priority was given to those receiving a qualifying disability benefit from the Department of Work and Pensions over those receiving a qualifying benefit from the Ministry of Defence.

Your payment may be delayed if you are awarded another benefit at a later date or if you alter the account that your benefit is deposited. You will continue to receive Cost of Living Payment payments automatically.

How to report a missing cost of living allowance

Most individuals should have received their Cost of Living Payment of £301 and Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 for 2023.

Learn how to report a missing Cost of Living Payment if you believe you should have received one of the following payments but cannot locate it in your bank, building society or credit union account:

  • £301 Cost of Living Allowance for a low-income benefit
  • £150 Disability Allowance Cost of Living Allowance
  • Do not report the same payment as missing multiple times. 

Winter Fuel Payment 

If you fit the eligibility for a Winter Fuel Payment, you will receive an additional £150 or £300 in addition to your regular payment beginning in November 2023.

The total quantity of Winter Fuel Payment you will receive for the winter of 2023-2024 will depend on your age and circumstances during the qualifying dates. If you are eligible, you can receive a Winter Fuel Payment for the 2023-2024 season.

To conclude

The payment eligibility dates will be added to this document once they are published.

If you are eligible, you should receive a letter in October or November detailing the amount of Winter Fuel Payment you will receive. If any more payments or dates are announced, we will update this post accordingly. 

If any other cost of living payments are announced, this post will be updated  accordingly. If you believe you may be eligible but do not know where to start, get in touch with the DWP today. 

Useful Resources 

  1. UK Government – Household Support Fund guidance for county councils and unitary authorities in England –  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-guidance-for-local-councils/1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024-household-support-fund-guidance-for-county-councils-and-unitary-authorities-in-england  – html. 
  2. UK Government – Cost of living payment –       https://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2023-0365/046_Cost_of_Living_Payment_V3-0.pdf   – pdf. 
  3. Benefit & Pension rates 2023/24 –    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1165046/benefit-and-pensions-rates-2023-2024.pdf  – pdf.
  4. UK Government – Help for households – https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/  – html. 
  5. Institute for government – Cost of living crisis –  https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/cost-living-crisis  – html.