Dates confirmed for next cost of living payments

The targeted cost of living support that had been made available during 2022 are set to continue through this year and beyond with the UK Government announcing a range of payments that could see eligible households receiving up to £1,350 over the next year. These support payments are being made in instalments to eligible households and are being rolled out through the benefits system, enabling payments to be made directly with no application process required.

What further payments have been announced?

The Government has announced three types of support payments which will be payable depending on household circumstances. These are a £150 disability payment, a £300 pensioner payment and three separate cost of living support payments totalling £900 for low income households.

The planned timeline for these payments is as follows:

• The first £301 low income cost of living payment is due to be paid between 25 April and 17 May for most people. Those on Tax Credits only may receive the payment slightly later.
• Summer 2023: A £150 disability payment is due.
• Autumn 2023: The second £300 low income cost of living payment is due.
• Winter 2023/24: A £300 pensioner payment is due.
• Spring 2024: The third £299 low income cost of living payment is due.

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. However, if you receive a cost of living payment, but are later found not to have been eligible, you may have to pay it back.

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

Who is eligible?

You may be eligible for one, or more, of these cost of living support payments if you get certain benefits or tax credits.

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 were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of a qualifying low income benefit, such as Universal Credit or Tax Credits for any day in the period 23 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.
• a disability cost of living payment, if you get a qualifying disability benefit such as DLA or PIP
• a pensioner cost of living payment, if you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023.

We will share more information on the later payments when this has been confirmed by the Government, including the dates you need to have been in receipt of the qualifying benefit in order to be eligible for these cost of living payments and the dates when the payments will be made.

Further information

Further information is available here.

To make sure your family is claiming all the financial support you are entitled to, contact the Family Benefits Advice Service for a free, personalised ‘better off’ calculation on 028 9267 8200 or email hello@employersforchildcare.org. Last year, where we provided a ‘better off’ calculation for families, we were able to identify an average of £5,000 in additional £5,000 financial support.