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Cost of Living Payments
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.