Are you eligible for this Cost of Living Payment?
The third and final payment of £200 will be between 6 and 22 February.
The payment is for people on a qualifying means-tested benefit who were entitled to payment during the qualifying period, 13 November to 12 December 2023, or a payment for an assessment period ending within the qualifying period. The qualifying benefits include:
- 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. You do not need to apply or contact the 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, followed by '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 on or from 13 November to 12 December 2023.
- Income-related JSA
- income-related ESA
- Income Support
- Pension Credit for any day from 13 November to 12 December 2023.
Tax credit-only customers must have received a payment of tax credits any day from 13 November to 12 December 2023.