Cost of Living support

A cost of living support package has been put in place for 2022 that includes one-off payments to those on income related benefits, disabled claimants and pensioners. These payments are intended to provide support to you with the current rise in the cost of living.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for one, or more, of these Cost of Living Support Payments if you get certain benefits or tax credits.

You do not need to do anything to apply. If you are eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you receive your normal benefit payments.

These additional cost of living payments are not taxable and will not affect any of the benefits or tax credits you get.

Low income (means tested) benefits

You may get a Cost of Living Payment of £650, paid in two instalments, if you get any of the following:

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Pension Credit
Universal Credit

The first payment of £326 will be made from July 2022 and you will need to have been entitled to one of the following:

Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022
Income-based JSA, income-related ESA, income support or pension credit for any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022

The second payment of £324 will be made in the autumn to those with a qualifying entitlement on the second qualifying day, which will not be later than 31 October 2022.

This page will be updated when further information becomes available.

If you have a joint claim with a partner, you will get one Cost of Living Payment, paid in 2 lump sums from July 2022 and again in the autumn, if eligible.

You will not get a payment if you have already received a Cost of Living Payment because you were entitled to tax credits.

If you get New-Style Employment and Support Allowance or New-Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, you will not be entitled to the Cost of Living Payment, unless you get Universal Credit or a disability benefit as well.

However, if you also receive a qualifying disability benefit, you may get an additional Disability Cost of Living Payment.

Tax Credits

You may get a Cost of Living Payment of £650, paid in two instalments, if you have an award for either of the following:

Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit

The first payment will be made from autumn 2022. To be eligible you must have received a payment, or an annual award of at least £26, of tax credits on any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022.

The second payment of £324 will be made in the winter to those with a qualifying entitlement on the second qualifying day, which will not be later than 31 October 2022.

This page will be updated when further information becomes available.

If you have a joint claim with a partner, you will get one Cost of Living Payment, paid in 2 lump sums in autumn 2022 and in the winter, if eligible.

You will not get a payment if you have already received a low income (means tested) Cost of Living Payment.

However, if you also receive a qualifying disability benefit, you may get an additional Disability Cost of Living Payment.

Disability benefits

You may get a lump sum payment of £150 if you get any of the following:

Attendance Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
Armed Forces Independence Payment
War Pension Mobility Supplement

You will need to have been entitled to one of these qualifying benefits on 25 May 2022 to get the payment.

You will get the payment in September 2022.

If you also receive a qualifying low income (means tested) benefit or tax credits, you may get an additional Cost of Living Payment.

Help for Pensioners

Pensioner households will receive an extra £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment this year to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter.

If you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023, you will get this extra £300 paid with your normal payment from November 2022.

You will get this Pensioner Cost of Living Payment as well as any Cost of Living Payment you may receive with your qualifying benefit or tax credits.

People will be eligible for this payment if they are over State Pension age (aged 66 or above) between 19 – 25 September 2022.

Not entitled to Cost of Living Support payment

People who get the following benefits only, will not be eligible for a cost of Living Support payment;

Carers Allowance
New-Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
New-Style Employment and Support Allowance
Incapacity Benefit
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Additional Help

Use the Benefits Calculator to check your entitlements, or
Contact the Make the Call service to make sure you're getting all the benefits, services and supports you're entitled to.
The Finance Support Service can provide support people who need short-term financial help.

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