As a result of the rising cost of living, the UK government set up financial aid programs through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). One of these measures was the Cost of Living Payment, which was meant to help people and families who were having a hard time paying for things like food, energy, and housing that were going up in price. Inflation was high in 2023 and early 2024, when this help was most needed, as many people were worried about their finances.
The £299 Cost of Living Payment was the last payment of this kind in the 2023–24 fiscal year. This payment was part of a larger series that were meant to help people with their money in small ways throughout the year. People who got this payment had to be enrolled in certain government support programs. This made sure that the money went to the people who needed it the most, like people who get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or different kinds of tax credits.
DWP £299 Cost of Living Payment Schedule
The Cost of Living Payment, which was started by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), was designed to help qualified people with money in stages over the course of the fiscal year 2023–2044. The goal was to give these payments to people at important times of the year to help them deal with the rising cost of living. Here is a full explanation of the payment plan and structure:
| Amount | Eligible Benefits | Payment Dates |
|---|---|---|
| £301 | Universal Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-based ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit | Between 25 April and 17 May 2023 |
| £301 | Tax credits only (no other low-income benefit) | Between 2 May and 9 May 2023 |
| £300 | Universal Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-based ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit | Between 31 October and 19 November 2023 |
| £300 | Tax credits only (no other low-income benefit) | Between 10 November and 19 November 2023 |
| £299 | Universal Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-based ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit | Between 6 February and 22 February 2024 |
| £299 | Tax credits only (no other low-income benefit) | Between 16 February and 22 February 2024 |
These payments were made automatically to eligible recipients, and no application was necessary, reducing the risk of fraud and simplifying the process for beneficiaries.
Eligibility for the Payment
A person could get the £299 payment if they had received or were qualified to receive any of the following benefits on any day between November 13, 2023, and December 12, 2023:
- Child Tax Credits
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit (unless subject to a ‘nil award’)
- Working Tax Credits
Process to Report Missing Payments
For people who did not get their payment when they were supposed to, the DWP set up a form on the Gov.uk website so they could report the problem. In order to do this, personal information like full name, date of birth, and national insurance number had to be given. Usually, the answer to these kinds of questions was given within two weeks.
Also read:-Universal Credit Payment Dates August 2024, Just a minor DWP change introduced
Future Payments and Additional Support
As of the latest updates, no additional Cost of Living Payments have been scheduled for 2024 beyond the final instalment in February. The government has not announced any further support under this specific initiative. However, benefit rates such as Universal Credit were set to increase by 6.7% from April 2024, providing some ongoing relief.