In 2023/24, there are three different cost of living payments available. Depending on your personal circumstances, you could be eligible for one, two, or all three – meaning some will get £1,350 in total.

If you're on low-income benefits, you'll get up to £900 – paid from this month.

If you're one of the eight million households that get the means-tested benefits listed below, you could get up to £900 in cost-of-living payments paid in three installments:

• £301 – from 25 April 2023 for those on qualifying benefits (including tax credits on top), or from 2 May 2023 for those on tax credits only
• £300 – during autumn 2023 (payment and eligibility dates yet to be confirmed)
• £299 – during spring 2024 (payment and eligibility dates yet to be confirmed)

Each amount is slightly different, so it's easier for the DWP and HM Revenue & Customs to clearly track whether you've been paid the right payment at the correct time.

You are eligible for the cost-of-living payment if you are entitled to any of the following:

• Child tax credit
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker's allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Pension credit
• Universal credit – unless your universal credit was reduced to £0 for the entire period between 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023. This is sometimes called a 'nil award' and can happen where you or your partner's earnings or savings go up, you start getting another benefit or you get paid more than one set of wages within that period.
• Working tax credit

If you claim certain disability benefits, you'll get £150 – paid in summer 2023.

If you're one of six million people who get certain disability benefits, you could get a £150 one-off payment paid in summer 2023. You can get this on top of the up to £900 means-tested cost of living payment, and/or the £300 pensioner payment.

You'll get this payment if you're on any of the following benefits – though again, we don't yet know the exact payment or eligibility dates:

• Armed forces independence payment
• Attendance allowance
• Constant attendance allowance
• Disability living allowance
• Personal independence payment
• War pension mobility supplement

If you're above state pension age, you'll get £300 – paid in winter 2023/24

If you're entitled to winter fuel payment and are above state pension age (aged 66 and over), you'll get a top-up of £300 in winter 2023/24.

If you're eligible, you'll be sent a letter in October or November 2023 telling you how much your total winter fuel payment will be.

 

Payments will be automatic, and you DON'T need to apply – beware of scammers saying otherwise.

If you qualify for these cost-of-living payments, you don't need to apply. You'll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefits or tax credits.

If you get benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the reference for the payment will be 'DWP COLP', along with your national insurance number. For tax credits-only recipients, the payment reference will be 'HMRC COLS'.

Watch out for texts or emails inviting you to claim or apply for the payment – they're scams. DWP has said it'll never ask you for personal details or banking info over text or email.

Also be warned that if you get a cost-of-living payment and the DWP later finds you weren't eligible, you may have to pay it back.