The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the payment date for its £650 cost of living payment.
Check out the guide below on money you may be entitled to
You may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.
You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically. The payments will be made separately.
These payments are not taxable and will not affect the benefits or tax credits you get.
Low-income benefits.
You may be eligible for a payment of £650, paid in 2 lump sums of £326 and £324, if you’re getting any of the following:
- Universal Credit
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
Eligibility.
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to payment) of either:
- Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022
- income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022
Joint claims with a partner mean that you will receive one payment of £326 and one payment of £324 for your joint claim if you’re entitled.
You will not get a payment if you get New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance unless you get Universal Credit.
When you’ll be paid.
Most payments of £326 will be made between 14 July 2022 and the end of July 2022.
If you are entitled, you’ll receive the second payment of £324 in autumn 2022
If you also get a qualifying disability benefit, you may get an additional Disability Cost of Living Payment.
Tax credits
You may get a payment of £650 paid in 2 lump sums of £326 and £324 if you have an award of any of the following:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Eligibility.
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have received a payment, or an annual award of at least £26, of tax credits on any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022.
Joint claims with a partner mean that you will get one payment of £326 and one payment of £324 for your joint claim if you’re entitled.
You will receive a Cost of Living Payment for the Child Tax Credit only if you get both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.
If you get tax credits from HMRC and a low-income benefit from DWP, you will only get a Cost of Living Payment from DWP.
When you’ll be paid.
If you’re entitled, you’ll get the first payment of £326 from autumn 2022 and the second payment of £324 from winter 2022.
If you also get a qualifying disability benefit, you may get an additional Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP.
Disability benefits
You may get a lump sum payment of £150 if you’re getting any of the following:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for Children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Eligibility
You must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) of one of these qualifying benefits for 25 May 2022 to get the payment.
If you get a qualifying disability benefit from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and a qualifying disability benefit from the DWP. You will get a Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP only.
When you’ll get paid
You’ll get the payment from September 2022.
You may get an additional Cost of Living Payment if you also get a qualifying low-income benefit or tax credit.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023. You will get an extra £300 for your household, paid with your normal payment from November 2022. This is in addition to any Cost of Living Payment you get with your benefit or tax credits.
The full amount of Winter Fuel Payment you will get for winter 2022 to 2023 depends on your circumstances.
| Your circumstances | Born between 26 September 1942 and 25 September 1956 | Amount if born on or before 25 September 1942 |
|---|---|---|
| You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) | £500 | £600 |
| You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies | £250 | £350 |
| You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies | £250 | £300 |
| You qualify and live with a partner who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits | £500 – only one of you will get the payment | £600 – only one of you will get the payment |
| You qualify and live with someone (not your partner) who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits | £500 – you’ll both get the payment | £600 – you’ll both get the payment |
| You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits | £250 | £300 |
Other help
Use an independent benefits calculator to find out what benefits you could get.
You may be able to get other kinds of support, including:
- help from the Household Support Fund from your local council in England
- the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales
- a Crisis Grant or Community Care Grant in Scotland
- Discretionary Support or a Short-term Benefit Advance in Northern Ireland
