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Cost of Living Payments

An elderly couple reading their energy bill.

The UK Government is no longer making Cost of Living Payments. However, if you think you may have missed a Cost of Living Payment, you can report it to the Department of Work and Pensions here.

You can also check what other support is available for energy costs here.

The UK Government offers “targeted support” for those who need it most.

Three different Cost of Living Payments are available:

Cost of Living Payment for households on means-tested benefits
Disability Cost of Living Payment
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

Each Cost of Living Payment should be made automatically, so you don’t need to apply.

Full information about the Cost of Living Payments can be found on the UK Government’s website.

Cost of Living Payment for households on means-tested benefits

If you’re on means-tested benefits, then you could get a payment of £301, £300, and £299.

The qualifying means-tested benefits are:

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

Disability Cost of Living Payment

£150 is available for people on certain disability benefits.

The eligible benefits are:

Attendance Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance for adults
Disability Living Allowance for children
Personal Independence Payment
Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
Armed Forces Independence Payment
War Pension Mobility Supplement

Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

If you’re eligible for Winter Fuel Payment 2023-24, then you’ll get £150 or £300 on top of this. Check our separate guide to Winter Fuel Payment to learn more.

What about the Energy Bill Support Scheme?

During the 2022-23 energy crisis, the UK Government helped all UK households with their energy costs. The Energy Bill Support Scheme (EBSS) gave people £400 to help them pay for energy. The payment was spread over six months, from October 2022 to March 2023.

Alongside the EBSS, the UK Government also kept the Energy Price Guarantee (see below) in place until the end of June 2023.

The Cost of Living Payments replaced the Energy Bill Support Scheme. Instead of supporting all UK households, the payments help those who need it the most.

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