Are you eligible for the £300 autumn Cost of Living payment?

The second instalment of the £900 Cost of Living cash handout will be landing soon, here's how to find out if you're eligible and how you'll get your payment

The next DWP Cost of Living payment is expected to land in bank accounts this autumn. So what do you need to do to ensure you automatically receive this £300 handout, the 2nd of this year's payments?

Cost of Living payments are payments made by the Government to those on low incomes and certain benefits.

For 2023-2024 a total of £900 is being paid to those who are eligible. The payments are being made in 3 instalments of £301, £300 and £299.

The first payment for 2023/2024 was made in April 2023, and the final £299 payment is expected in spring 2024. Leaving everyone wondering when the much-anticipated next £300 payment will come.

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At the moment, the Department for Work and Pensions is remaining tight-lipped over the exact payments dates, and the dates you needed to be claiming certain benefits in order to qualify for the latest round of help have also yet to be announced – but here's all the info we do know for certain.

What is the Cost of Living payment?

Cost of Living payments are cash handouts given by the Government via the DWP to people on certain benefits and allowances to help ease the effects of the cost of living crisis.

Those who are entitled to the payments will get 3 cash deposits made into their bank accounts.

The sums will be for £301 (already paid), £300 (due soon) and £299 (spring, 2024), and all payments are made separately from any other benefits you might receive.

What date is the autumn COL payment due?

The latest information from the Government about the Cost-of-Living payment dates is as follows:

• £300 paid during autumn 2023 for most people
• £299 paid during spring 2024 for most people

Although no actual firm day, or date range, has been specified, if last year's payment schedule is taken as an example of how they might roll out this autumn's payments, it could be assumed that the £300 will drop into bank accounts at the beginning of November.

This is based on the fact that last year, the 2nd instalment was paid at the start of November, and was announced by the DWP 5 weeks before it was due to arrive, on 3 October 2022.

With that in mind, it is highly likely the DWP will work to a similar timetable this year, and announce the payment date just over a month before it is due to land, giving people time to plan and budget around it.

How do I apply for the £300 autumn payout?

You do not need to apply. If you meet the criteria by being on certain DWP benefits or allowances already, the money will be automatically paid to you.

We can help you if you don’t have enough money to live on or can’t afford essentials like bills and food.

You can find advice on our website ⤵️https://t.co/KymMSLYq4k pic.twitter.com/FHyIsigvpp

— CitizensAdvice (@CitizensAdvice) July 21, 2023

Which benefits qualify for the COL cash?

The £300 payment will be made to households who are in receipt of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit

(However, if f you’re getting Tax Credits from HMRC and a low income benefit from DWP, you will be paid by DWP only. If you are getting both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive the £300 for Child Tax Credit only, which will be paid by HMRC.)

Which benefits will not make me eligible for the COL payment?

You will not get the £300 autumn cost of living payment if you are only getting:

• New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Contributory ESA
• New Style Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

Can my partner and I make a joint claim for cost of living payments?

Payments are made per claim.

That means if you have a joint benefit claim on the qualifying dates for the cost of living payment, (which have not yet been announced), and you are eligible for the cash, a single payment of £300 will be sent using the same payment method as your benefit is paid. You will not get £300 each.

I have never received a payment and I think I should have

If you think you should have been eligible for a Cost-of-Living payment, but have not received it, we have all the info on what you need to do next.

There is a dedicated Government page for reporting missed payments, and it's a simple follow up if you think you have missed out when you shouldn't have.

You could be one of many parents eligible to claim up to £951 a month for one child and £1,630 for two or more children with #UniversalCredit

Find out more https://t.co/P1QlZu6YBn pic.twitter.com/Fc6TsDbVEz

— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) July 18, 2023

What other financial help can I apply for?

We have lots of advice on all the benefits and entitlements you can apply for over the summer months, including accessing the Household Support Fund, and how to claim a pre-paid grocery shopping card if you are pregnant or have young children, plus all the DWP benefits you could be entitled to, even if you are working.

We've also got all the payments dates for your August benefits, including date changes due to the bank holiday.

Get more Cost-of-Living news and advice

You can keep up to date with all the latest benefit and money news by checking out our Cost of Living Crisis hub.

Here you will find lots of Government-based advice on cash you might be entitled to, and when you can expect the latest Cost of Living payments and other allowances to land in your bank account.

There's also top tips from the Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, as well as brilliant ideas for saving money on everything from your weekly shop, to that well-deserved holiday.

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