Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024, Help with Your Household Living Expenses second grant ahead of winter
If you receive certain benefits or tax credits, you might be eligible for extra payments to assist with the cost of living. These payments can total up to five installments.
The good news is you don’t have to fill out any forms to get these payments. If you qualify, they will be deposited into your bank account automatically, just like your regular benefits or tax credits. This applies even if you’re found eligible at a later date.
A quick reminder: Be cautious if you receive any messages telling you to apply or contact someone about these payments; they could be scams.
Essential information about these Cost of Living Payments from 2023 to 2024:
1. Not Taxable and Won’t Affect Your Benefits:
The extra payments are not subject to taxes, and they won’t reduce the benefits or tax credits you’re currently receiving.
2. Eligibility for Low-Income Benefits and Tax Credits:
If you receive any of the following benefits or tax credits on specific dates, you may be eligible for up to three Cost of Living Payments in the amounts of £301, £300, and £299:
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
These payments will be separate from your regular benefit payments. However, please note that you won’t receive these payments if you’re only getting New Style ESA, contributory ESA, or New Style JSA.
Note: If you have a joint claim on the qualifying dates, a single payment will be sent to the same account you’ve been using between those dates.
£300 Cost of Living Payment Eligibility:
Universal Credit: You qualify for the £300 payment if you were entitled to a Universal Credit payment between 18 August 2023 and 17 September 2023.
Income-based JSA, income-based ESA, Income Support, and Pension Credit: You’re eligible for the £300 payment if you were entitled to one of these benefits between 18 August 2023 and 17 September 2023. This includes cases where your entitlement is between 1 penny and 9 pence.
Tax Credits: If you received tax credits on any day between 18 August 2023 and 17 September 2023, or you later receive a payment for any day in that period, you qualify for the £300 payment.
£301 Cost of Living Payment Eligibility:
Universal Credit: You are eligible for the £301 payment if you were entitled to a Universal Credit payment between 26 January 2023 and 25 February 2023.
Income-based JSA, income-based ESA, Income Support, and Pension Credit: The £301 payment is available to you if you were entitled to one of these benefits between 26 January 2023 and 25 February 2023. This also includes cases where your entitlement is between 1 penny and 9 pence.
Tax Credits: If you received tax credits on any day between 26 January 2023 and 25 February 2023, or you later receive a payment for any day in that period, you qualify for the £301 payment.
£299 Cost of Living Payment:
Information about the qualifying dates for the £299 Cost of Living Payment will be provided once they are announced.
When You’re Not Eligible:
When You’re Not Eligible: DWP Benefits:
You won’t receive the Cost of Living Payment if your benefit is reduced to £0 during the qualifying period. This can happen for various reasons, such as receiving multiple earnings payments in your Universal Credit assessment period, an increase in your or your partner’s earnings or savings, starting to receive another benefit, or facing a ‘sanction’ due to not fulfilling your claimant commitment. However, you may still be eligible if your benefit was reduced for other reasons, like rent or debt payments, or if you received a hardship payment due to difficulties in covering rent, heating, food, or hygiene needs.
When You’re Not Eligible: Tax Credits:
If your total tax credit entitlement for the tax year falls below £26, you won’t be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment.
Payment Dates for Cost of Living Payment:
The payment dates for different benefits are as follows:
£301 Payment: For Universal Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-based ESA, Income Support, and Pension Credit, payments will be made between 25 April and 17 May 2023 for most people.
£301 Payment for Tax Credits Only: For individuals receiving tax credits and no other low-income benefit, payments will be made between 2 May and 9 May 2023 for most people.
£300 Payment: For Universal Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-based ESA, Income Support, and Pension Credit, payments will be made between 31 October and 19 November 2023 for most people.
£300 Payment for Tax Credits Only: For individuals receiving tax credits and no other low-income benefit, payments will be made between 10 November and 19 November 2023 for most people.
£299 Payment: For Universal Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-based ESA, Income Support, and Pension Credit, payments are expected to be made by spring 2024 for most people.
£299 Payment for Tax Credits Only: For individuals receiving tax credits and no other low-income benefit, payments are expected to be made by spring 2024 for most people.
Disability Cost of Living Payment Eligibility:
You may be eligible for a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 if you’re receiving specific benefits, including Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, and others, on 1 April 2023. You’ll receive this payment automatically.
Payment Dates for Disability Cost of Living Payment:
For most people, the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment was automatically deposited between 20 June 2023 and 4 July 2023.
Reporting a Missing Payment:
If you believe you should have received a payment but can’t find it in your bank account, find out how to report it.
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment:
If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024, you’ll receive an additional £150 or £300 along with your regular payment starting in November 2023. The total amount depends on your birth date and circumstances. You’ll be informed about the exact amount in October or November.
Please note that this information is specific to Cost of Living Payments in 2023 and 2024. If you want information about Cost of Living Payments in 2022, please refer to separate guidance.”
