The DWP has announced the date that the first of three cost of living payments for claimants totaling £900 will be made.
A payment of £301 will be sent out automatically to eligible claimants between 25 April and 17 May.
A further £300 payment will be made in Autumn 2023 and a £299 payment will be made in Spring 2024.
Eligible benefits
To be eligible for the £301 payment you will need to have been in receipt of one of the following benefits during the qualifying period:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
Universal Credit
You are eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £301 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.
Income-based JSA, income-based ESA, Income Support and Pension Credit
You are eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £301 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.
You are also eligible if you are entitled to one of these benefits for any day during this period but you do not receive a benefit payment because your entitlement is between 1 penny and 9 pence.
Tax credits
You are eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £301 if you received a payment of tax credits for any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023, or you are later found to have been entitled to a payment for this period.
If you get tax credits, and no other low income benefits, you’ll get your Cost of Living Payment from HMRC shortly after DWP payments begin, if you’re eligible.
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.
Other cost of living payments
The disability cost of living payment of £150 will be paid sometime this summer and the pensioner cost of living payment of £150 or £300 will be paid from November 2023.
There’s more details about the cost of living payments on this page.
