Cost of Living Payments

30 August 2022

You may be able to get an additional payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits. This includes if you’re found to be eligible for a Cost of Living Payment or a Disability Cost of Living Payment at a later date.

You do not need to apply as you’ll be paid automatically.

If you have had a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, this might be a scam.

You could get up to 3 different types of payment depending on your circumstances on a particular date or during a particular period:

  • Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying low income benefit or tax credits.
  • Disability Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying disability benefit.
  • Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, if you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023.

These payments are not taxable and will not affect the benefits or tax credits you get.

Disability Cost of Living Payment

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

  • 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.

Eligibility

You must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) of one of these qualifying benefits for 25 May 2022 to get the payment. 

If you get a qualifying disability benefit from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and a qualifying disability benefit from DWP, you will get a Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP only. 

If you receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment, but we later find that you were not eligible for it, you may have to pay it back.

When you’ll get paid

You’ll get the payment from September 2022. Payments will be made to people who get a qualifying disability from DWP before payments to people who get a qualifying benefit from the Ministry of Defence. 

For full details on eligibility, please see the article on GOV.uk.

For information on the scheme in Northern Ireland, please click here.

Additional information from the government can be found on their Help for Households campaign website.

Further information

Other useful organisations which may be able to offer additional information and support if you have questions about cost-of-living payments and entitlement to benefits include: