Payments to help low-income households deal with the cost of living crisis are starting to arrive in people’s bank accounts.

Worth £301

Worth £301, the first instalments are being paid to means-tested benefits claimants, including people on Universal Credit, between now and Wednesday 17th May. Further automatic payments will be made in autumn and next spring.

Payments will be made directly into eligible recipients' bank accounts, without them needing to make a claim. The payment reference will show up in bank accounts will be the recipient's National Insurance number, followed by DWP COL.

Those who qualify for the money solely through tax credits will receive their cost-of-living payment from Tuesday 2nd May.

To qualify

To qualify for a payment, you must receive:

• Universal Credit
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Pension Credit.

You will need to have been entitled to a payment for one of these benefits between 26th January and 25th February 2023, or payment for an assessment period ending between these dates.

Low-income pensioners

Low-income pensioners who are eligible for, but not claiming Pension Credit, can still qualify for the cost-of-living payment if they make a successful backdated Pension Credit application by Friday 19th May.

Low-income pensioners can check if they are eligible at www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim

More information about Cost of Living Payments can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment