Households on certain benefits and Tax Credit payments will begin to receive the last of three cost of living payments from 6 February 2024.
The payments are tax-free and will not count towards current benefit payments. The payments total £900, with the first instalment paid to eligible individuals in April 2023 and the second in November 2023.
The government currently has no plans to extend the scheme.
How and when will I be paid?
If you are eligible for any of the remaining one-off payments, they will be paid automatically in the same way as previous payments. You will not need to make a claim and the payment should arrive in your account between 6 February and 22 February.
Households receiving only Tax Credits will be paid by HMRC between 16 February and 22 February.
To be eligible, you need to be receiving one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based JSA
- Income-based ESA
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credit
Beware of scammers
Those eligible for a cost of living payment will be paid automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HMRC into the same bank account you usually receive your benefit payments. Look out for the official references on your bank statements:
- HMRC COL for payments from HMRC
- DWP COL for payments from DWP
Sadly, cost of living scams are becoming more prevalent. Always be wary of unsolicited text messages, emails, or WhatsApp messages telling you that you must apply for the payments or click a link to be paid. The DWP will not ask you for any personal details or your banking information over the phone or text.
Find out more about scams and online fraud on our hub.
Further cost of living support
If you believe you are entitled to a cost of living payment from the government, but you haven't received it, you can report it here.
For more cost of living content, including guidance, tips, and signposting to useful resources, please visit our Cost of Living Support hub.
*Information updated 6 February 2024.
