Are you eligible for the third Cost of Living payment? See the qualifying dates

See if you qualify for the £299 government payment which will start to land in bank accounts within eight weeks

Millions of people are due to get their third Cost of Living payment in February 2024.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has now confirmed the third payment will land in bank accounts between 6 February and 22 February 2024 for most people.

Previously, the DWP had said the payment would be made by Spring 2024, which led people to believe the payment would be made in March.

More than eight million people are expected to get the £299 payment to help with the cost of living crisis.

It comes after the first payment, for £301 was made in spring, with the second, for £300 made between 31 October and 19 November, to make a total of £900 in payments.

The money is designed to help people on low incomes with the rising costs of food, utilities and general day-to-day living. It will be paid to people on benefits including Universal Credit, Income Support and Pension Credit.

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Claimants now have around eight weeks to wait for the third and final payment.

The dates were first announced by money-saving expert Martin Lewis on his money show on the evening of Tuesday, 12 December and confirmed the next day by the DWP.

What is the qualifying period?

Each payment has its own qualifying period.

To get the £299, you need to have been paid (or have been eligible for a payment of) one of the benefits listed below for any day between 13 November 2023 and 12 December 2023.

This means that you may be eligible for this payment even if you didn't receive last year's £650 cost of living payment, or the first two cost of living payments this year.

Some people on Universal Credit may be at risk of missing out because of how the eligibility period falls in relation to their assessment period and pay frequency.

Martin Lewis 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.'

Who is eligible for the £900 payment?

The third payment is available for people claiming one of the following qualifying benefits in a qualifying period:

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

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).

How do I apply for the payment?

You do not need to apply for a payment, you will automatically receive it into the bank account where you get your benefits.

If you get benefits from the DWP, the reference for the payment will be 'DWP COL', along with your national insurance number. For Tax Credits-only recipients, the payment reference will be 'HMRC COLS'.

Which Cost of Living payments have been issued so far?

• £326 was issued between 14 and 31 July 2022 for those on DWP benefits and between 2 and 7 September 2022 for people on Tax Credits
• £324 was paid between 8 and 23 November 2022 for most people on DWP benefits – or between 23 and 30 November 2022 for people on Tax Credits
• £301 was paid between April 25 and May 17 for most people on DWP benefits and Tax Credits
• £150 Disability Cost of Living payment was issued between 20 June and 4 July
• £300 was paid during autumn 2023 – between 31 October and 19 November for most people on DWP benefits and Tax Credits

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Will there be further cost of living payments?

There have been calls for the payments to continue past spring 2024, and the DWP has issued an update about future payments.

However, the government has said there won't be further payments after the third payment in February for £299.

What are the Cost of Living payments?

Cost of Living payments are tax-free grants given to low-income and struggling households across the UK by the DWP.

They were first introduced by Jeremy Hunt in 2022 with two payments that totalled £650 for people claiming certain benefits such as Universal Credit and Tax Credits. Later that year, in his autumn statement, Mr Hunt announced that the payments would be extended for the tax year 2023/24.

Which payments are yet to come?

The DWP will issue £300 to pensioners who get Winter Fuel Payment. The DWP began issuing this payment in November and it will continue to be paid through December.

Following this, there will be a final Cost of Living payment, the third instalment of the £900 worth £299 that will be paid out to eight million households in February.

This means there's £599 yet to come in this financial year.

More money advice

You can visit our cost of living hub for further money tips.

There you'll find advice that could help you with everyday costs, budgeting and more.

You'll find more stories about the Household Support Fund, Cost of Living payments and other benefits.

There's also Martin Lewis guidance in the run-up to Christmas Day, and helpful hacks to keep the cost of your weekly shop down.

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