Millions of households will receive a £299 cost of living payment in February next year, the Government has confirmed.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has today confirmed that payments will be made to around eight million households between Tuesday February 6 and Thursday February 22, 2024.
It will be the third of up to three cost of living payments, totalling £900, to eligible people on means-tested benefits this financial year.
Eligible people do not need to apply or take any action to get the payment, which will be sent automatically by the DWP and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The DWP said it is continuing to encourage low income pensioners who are not already getting Pension Credit to check if they are eligible
PA
Who is eligible for the £299 cost of living payment?
To be eligible for this cost of living payment, people need to have been entitled to a payment for a qualifying benefit between November 13 and December 12, or payment for an assessment period ending between these dates.
The list of qualifying benefits, which a person must be eligible for and get, are:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
The DWP said it is continuing to encourage low income pensioners who are not already getting Pension Credit to check if they are eligible.
Claiming Pension Credit now could mean they qualify for the £299 cost of living payment in February, due to Pension Credit backdating rules.
If a household becomes retrospectively entitled to a cost of living payment or believe they should get one but don’t receive it, they can report it via gov.uk from February 23.
The payment reference for bank accounts will be the recipient’s National Insurance Number followed by the code “DWP COL”.
The HMRC payment reference will be “HMRC COLS”.
The cost of living payments will be made separately from a person’s benefit payments.
If a person has a joint claim on the qualifying dates, a single cost of living payment of £299 would be sent using the same payment method used between those dates, to those eligible.
People who get only New Style ESA, contributory ESA, or New Style JSA will not get a payment.
