Government support available for cost of living

Following two Cost of Living Payments totalling up to £650 in 2022, millions of households are continuing to receive further support from government to ease financial pressures during 2023/2024.

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, and the third payment of £299 will be paid by Spring 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 paid automatically, meaning those eligible do not need to apply or contact DWP or HMRC. It will be paid separately to benefit payments and 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 the range of government support with the cost of living at gov.uk/helpforhouseholds.