The Cost of Living support package has been designed to help over 8 million households in receipt of means tested benefits. The details for Cost of Living payments due in the 2023-24 tax year have been published.
Eligible recipients will receive up to three Cost of Living Payments of £301, £300 and £299. This includes those receiving pension credit and these payments will be made separately from other benefit payments.
The payments are expected to be made as follows:
- £301 paid between 25 April 2023 and 17 May 2023 for most people on DWP benefits
- £300 paid during autumn 2023 for most people
- £299 paid during spring 2024 for most people
An additional one-off payment of £150 or £300 will be paid to pensioners during winter 2023-24. The Winter Fuel Payment is provided by the government to help older people keep warm during winter. The amount a pensioner will receive depends on a number of factors including their age and the age of other people living with them.
HMRC’s guidance will be updated with the qualifying dates for the payment when they are published. Pensioners will be sent a letter in October or November telling them how much Winter Fuel Payment they will get if they are eligible. Any money pensioners receive for the Winter Fuel Payment is tax-free and will not affect any other benefits they may receive. The payment is not means-tested.