Posted on: Wednesday 26 April 2023
Millions of households are set receive further support from UK government to ease financial pressures during the rising cost of living.
Three Cost of Living Payments worth £900 in total, will be made to eligible households over the 2023/2024 period.
The first payment of £301 will be made between 25 April and 17 May, with a second payment of £300 in the Autumn of 2023, and the third payment of £299 in the Spring of 2024.
This will apply to people on means-tested benefits: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, and tax credits: Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit.
The Cost of Living Payment will be issued automatically, meaning those eligible do not need to apply.
It will be paid separately to benefit payments and will appear in accounts with the account holder’s National Insurance number and DWP COLP.
For tax credit-only customers, the reference will appear in accounts as 'HMRC COLS', referencing Cost of Living Support.
To be eligible for the first payment, families must have been entitled to a payment, or later found to be entitled to a payment, of either:
- Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 26 January to 25 February, income based JSA, income related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.
For tax credit-only customers, they must have received a payment of tax credits any day in the period 26 January to 25 February 2023.
You do not need to contact DWP or HMRC or apply for the payment, it will be made automatically into the accounts of those eligible.
For more information, go to the Cost of Living Payment page on gov.uk.