A cost of living support package has been put in place for 2022 that includes one-off payments to those on income related benefits, disabled claimants and pensioners. These payments are intended to provide support to you with the current rise in the cost of living.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for one, or more, of these Cost of Living Support Payments if you get certain benefits or tax credits. You do not need to do anything to apply. If you are eligible (or if you are found to be eligible at a later date) you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you receive your normal benefit payments or tax credits.

These additional cost of living payments will be made separately from your normal payments. They are not taxable and will not affect any of the benefits or tax credits you get.

You could get up to three different types of payment depending on your circumstances on a particular date or during a particular period:

• a Low Income Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying low income benefit or tax credits
• a Disability Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying disability benefit
• a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, if you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023

If you receive a Cost of Living Payment, but are later found not to have been eligible, you may have to pay it back.

Low income (means tested) benefits

You may get a Low Income Cost of Living Payment of £650, paid in two instalments of £326 and £324. To be eligible you will need to have been entitled to (or later become entitled to) one of the following benefits 

• Universal Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit

Report a missing Cost of Living Payment

If you think you should have had the £326 low income payment, but you cannot see it in your bank, building society or credit union account, you can report a missing Cost of Living Payment to the office that pays your benefit.

If you think you should have received the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment but you cannot see it in your bank, building society or credit union account, you can report a missing Cost of Living Payment. If you have already reported a missing payment, you do not need report it again.

Help for pensioners

Pensioner households will receive an extra £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment this year to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter.

If you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023, you will get this extra £300 paid with your normal payment from November 2022.

You will get this Pensioner Cost of Living Payment as well as any Cost of Living Payment you may receive with your qualifying benefit or tax credits.

People will be eligible for this payment if they are over State Pension age (aged 66 or above) between 19 and 25 September 2022.

Scams about Cost of Living Payments

If you get a suspicious email or text from GOV.UK, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Department for Communities asking for bank details, you should report it. 

DWP or the Department for Communities will not ask for bank details by text or email or send a link to click into within a text or email.