Am I eligible for the third DWP Cost of Living £299 payment?
Aneira Davies
Social and newsletter writerThe dates for the third Cost of Living payments have finally been announced – but who exactly will get it and are you eligible?
Low-income families are to get a third Cost of Living payment for £299 in February next year.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced the exact dates the next Cost of Living payment will be made on Wednesday, 11 December.
The payment – given out by the DWP to help struggling families on certain benefits meet the high costs of food, bills and other essentials – is the third of a three-part cash boost for the financial year 2023/2024.
The first, for £301 was made in Spring 2023 and the second payment, worth £300, which was paid between 31 October and 19 November this year. The spring 2024 payment, which is worth £299, will be 6 February and 22 February 2024 for most people.
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The dates for the third payment were first announced by money-saving expert Martin Lewis on his money show on Tuesday night, and confirmed on Wednesday 13 December by the DWP.
Together, all three payments total £900 of extra financial help for families who receive certain benefits including Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
But each claimant will have to have received a payment during the qualifying period in order to get the cash.
Who is eligible for the third Cost of Living payment?
Cost of Living payments are government grants which were introduced in 2022 to help families struggling with the rising cost of living.
The payments don't count towards the benefit cap and do not need to be paid back.
The upcoming payment is the third one to be made during this financial year, in a handout totalling £900 for recipients.
The £299 cash boost is to be made to households claiming certain benefits (or who are eligible for these benefits) during the qualifying period.
To get the payment, you will need to be claiming one of the following benefits during the qualifying period:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
What is the qualifying period?
The qualifying period refers to the date claimants were receiving their benefits.
While the qualifying dates for the third Cost of Living payment have not yet been announced, Martin Lewis revealed on his ITV Money Show that anyone claiming eligible benefits now should get the Cost of Living payment in February.
He said: 'The eligibility is based on if you're due qualifying benefits which is most means tested benefits, universal credit, tax credits, employment support, between November 13 and roughly today (December 12).
'So if you're eligible now, you will get it next February.'
The second payment was paid between 31 October and 19 November 2023 and its qualifying period was between 18 August and 17 September.
What if I wasn't eligible for the first or second Cost of Living payment?
You do NOT need to have received previous Cost of Living payments to be eligible for the third one.
If your circumstances have changed and you are or were claiming one of the above benefits during the above qualifying period, then you should be eligible for the third Cost of Living payment.
With new people joining the benefits system since the first and second payments were made, more people could get the third payment than in previous payouts.
If I got the second payment will I automatically get the third?
No, not necessarily.
If your circumstances have changed and you weren't entitled to benefits during the qualifying time period this time round, you might not get the third Cost of Living payment (and you could even face a fine if you do wrongly get it).
When will the third Cost of Living payment be paid?
The third Cost of Living payment will be made 6 February and 22 February 2024.
However, the exact date you'll get it depends on which benefit you claim and whether the DWP or HMRC pay it to you.
If you're due to receive a payment, you also won't need to apply for it. Instead, it'll come automatically into your bank account.
What's the full cost of living payment schedule for 2023?
The next next Cost of Living payment is £299 for people on income-based benefits such as Universal Credit. This money will be paid into accounts between 6 February and 22 February 2024, for most eligible people.
The full cost of living payment schedule for 2023/2024 is as follows:
- £301 paid between April 25 and May 17 for most people on DWP means-tested benefits. Qualifying period was January 26 to February 25.
- £301 paid between May 2 and 9 for most people on HMRC tax credits and no other means-tested benefits. Qualifying period was January 26 to February 25.
- £150 paid between June 20 and July 4 for people on disability benefits. Qualifying date was April 1. Some payments are still being made but there is no 'second' payment.
- £300 paid during Autumn 2023 for people on means-tested benefits – paid between 31 October and 19 November. Qualifying dates were August 18 to September 17
- £300 paid in November and December to pensioners who get Winter Fuel Payment
- £299 paid during Spring 2024 for people on means-tested benefits – paid between 6 February and 22 February 2024
Other cost of living help
Our Cost of Living hub has all the latest stories about benefits and entitlements, and up-to-date information from the DWP.
There you'll find lots of Government-based advice on cash you might be entitled to, plus all the dates when you can expect the latest Cost of Living payments and other allowances to land in your bank account.
Some families may even be eligible for extra help from their local council – in the form of the Household Support Fund – a sum of money given to councils in England to distribute to residents who need it most.
There are also top tips from the Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, to help save you money and make life that little bit less stressful with brilliant ideas on how to reduce your weekly shop, to even saving for a much-needed holiday.
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