Low income Cost of Living Payment (£650)

You may be able to get £650 if you get:

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

When you'll get the payment

You get the £650 in 2 payments. When you get it depends on the benefit or tax credits you get.

Tax credits 

• £326 - between 2 and 7 September 2022 (for most people)
• £324 - between 23 and 30 November 2022 (for most people)

All other qualifying benefits

• £326 - between 14 and 31 July 2022 (for most people)
• £324 - between 8 and 23 November 2022 (for most people)

Eligibility

To get the first payment

You need to have been paid (or been eligible) for one of these benefits or tax credits for any day between 26 April 2022 and 25 May 2022.

There may also be further rules about certain circumstances.

Check the full low income Cost of Living Payment guidance on GOV.UK

To get the second payment

DWP will confirm dates you need to have been paid (or been eligible) for one of these benefits or tax credits.

We’ll update this page when we have this information.

How you'll get the payment

If you qualify you’ll get the payments automatically. You do not need to apply.

You'll get paid the same way as your benefit or tax credit.

Further information about the £650 Cost of Living payment

There's different rules about other benefits and some people's situations. 

If you’re unsure if you qualify check the full Cost of Living Payment guidance on GOV.UK

Contact DWP or HMRC

DWP and HMRC use a computer program to check who qualifies for a Cost of Living Payment.

If you need to talk to someone, you should contact the office that pays your benefit or tax credits.

You can find the contact number on your benefit or tax award letter.