The £299 Cost of Living Payment was the third and final instalment of the government’s series of means-tested payments issued during the 2023 to 2024 financial year.
This payment was designed to support low-income households across the UK struggling with the general cost of living.
It followed the first payment of £301 in spring 2023 and the second payment of £300 in autumn 2023, making the total support up to £900.
These payments were tax-free, did not count toward the benefit cap, and did not affect any existing benefit awards.
Who was eligible for the £299 payment?
To be eligible for the £299 Cost of Living Payment, you had to be receiving one of the qualifying low-income benefits during a specific Qualifying Period.
The payment was made to households, not individuals, so generally only one payment was made per household.
Qualifying Benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or JSA
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or ESA
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
What was the Qualifying Period?
You needed to have been entitled to a payment, or a payment for an assessment period, of one of the qualifying benefits for any day in the period 13 November 2023 to 12 December 2023.
- Universal Credit Rule: For Universal Credit, you needed to have been entitled to a payment for an assessment period that ended within this specific one-month period. You were not eligible if your Universal Credit was reduced to £0 for that entire assessment period, often referred to as a nil award.
- Tax Credits Rule: If you only received Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, you needed to have received a payment of tax credits in respect of any day during that one-month period.
When did the £299 payment arrive?
The payment was made automatically to those who were eligible. You did not need to apply for it.
- DWP Payment Window: For most people who received a qualifying benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions, the payment arrived between 6 February and 22 February 2024.
- HMRC Payment Window: For those who were eligible only through receiving Tax Credits, the payment was made by HM Revenue and Customs, or HMRC, between 16 February and 22 February 2024.
The payment appeared as a standalone amount in bank accounts.
The payment reference for DWP recipients was their National Insurance number, followed by ‘DWP COL’.
For HMRC recipients, the reference was ‘HMRC COLS’.
Why was the payment amount £299 and not £300?
The total series of means-tested Cost of Living Payments was designed to total up to £900 across the 2023 to 2024 financial year.
The amounts were delivered in slightly different numbers to help the DWP track which specific payment each household had received.
The three means-tested payments were:
- First payment: £301 (Spring 2023)
- Second payment: £300 (Autumn 2023)
- Third payment: £299 (Winter 2024)
The small difference in the final payment was purely for administrative tracking purposes.
What to do if you missed the £299 payment
Since the payment window has long passed, if you believe you met the eligibility criteria for the £299 payment but did not receive it, you can report the missing payment.
- Report Online: The DWP provides a dedicated online portal on the GOV.UK website where you can report a missing Cost of Living Payment. You will need your National Insurance number and details of the benefit you receive.
- Time Frame: The DWP advises that you should only report a missing payment after the stated payment windows have completely closed.
If you report a missing payment, the DWP will check your eligibility against the qualifying period.
Are there any more Cost of Living Payments planned for 2025?
No. The DWP has officially confirmed that the series of flat-rate Cost of Living Payments, including the final £299 instalment, has ended.
There are no further automatic payments of this kind scheduled for the 2025 to 2026 financial year.
However, the government continues to provide support through long-running schemes:
- Winter Fuel Payment: An annual payment of £100 to £300 to help pensioners with heating bills.
- Warm Home Discount: A one-off discount of £150 on your electricity bill for eligible low-income and pensioner households.
- Household Support Fund: Support managed by local councils across England for people struggling with food, energy, and other essential costs.
