Cost of Living Payments

Check your bank statement for a payment called ‘DWP Cost of Living’.

If you do not get a payment, use this form to report a missing Cost of Living Payment.

Contact Scope's helpline if you are having problems.

Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024 (GOV.UK)

Cost of Living Payments (BSL video)

Help with the Cost of Living (easy read PDF)

You were eligible for Cost of Living Payments in 2023 if you got a low-income benefit like:

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

Or tax credits, which included:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

There were 3 payments in 2023:

• £301 between 25 April and 17 May 2023 (if you were eligible between 26 January and 25 February 2023)
• £300 between 31 October and 19 November 2023 (if you were eligible between 18 August 2023 to 17 September 2023)
• £299 between 6 February and 22 February 2024 (if you were eligible between 13 November and 12 December 2023)

For which type of ESA you get, check your decision letter.

You can also call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 169 0310.

The benefit process can be stressful. There are things you can do if it’s affecting your mental health. These can include:

• accessing mental health support
• talking to a mental health charity about how you are feeling
• talking to other disabled people on our online community

Support if claiming benefits affects your mental health

If your mental health means you find it hard to work or do daily tasks, you could claim benefits. These will depend on the criteria but can include depression or anxiety.

Benefits and mental health