Cost of Living Payments

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
The Scottish Government recently announced changes to this scheme for winter 2025/26. All pensioner households in Scotland should get a Winter Fuel/Pension Age Winter Heating Payment for winter 2025/26.
Check our separate guide to Winter Fuel Payment to learn more.
Useful pages
Is this page useful?