Help for households and cost of living payments

Posted 13 November 2023

Millions of households will receive further support from the government to ease financial pressures during 2023/2024. This follows the two Cost of Living Payments totaling up to £650 in 2022.
 
The first 2023 payment of £301 was paid between 25 April and 17 May. A second payment of £300 will be paid between 31 October and 19 November. The third payment of £299 will be paid by Spring 2024.
 
This will apply to people on the following means-tested benefits.
  • universal credit
  • pension credit
  • income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
  • income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
  • income support
  • tax credits –  child tax credit and working tax credit.
 
The Cost of Living Payment will be paid automatically. This means that those eligible do not need to apply or contact DWP or HMRC. It will be paid separately to regular benefit payments. The reference will appear in accounts with the account holder’s National Insurance number and ‘DWP COL’. For tax credit-only customers, the reference will appear in accounts as ‘HMRC COLS’, referencing Cost of Living Support.
 
To be eligible for this payment, you 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 18 August to 17 September 2023.
  • income based JSA, income related ESA, income support, or pension credit, for any day in the period 18 August to 17 September 2023.
  • For tax credit-only customers, they must have received a payment of tax credits any day in the period 18 August to 17 September 2023.
Find out more about government support with the cost of living

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