The DWP £299 Cost of Living Payment was the third and final means-tested Cost of Living Payment for the 2023 to 2024 scheme. Most eligible DWP claimants received it between 6 and 22 February 2024, while eligible tax-credit-only claimants were paid by HMRC between 16 and 22 February 2024.
Together with the earlier £301 and £300 instalments, eligible households could receive up to £900. As of August 2026, DWP says it is not planning any further Cost of Living Payments.
Key Points:
- The £299 payment was the final instalment of the 2023 to 2024 means-tested payment series
- Most DWP payments were made from 6 to 22 February 2024
- Tax-credit-only recipients were generally paid from 16 to 22 February 2024
- DWP says it is not planning any further Cost of Living Payments
- In England, the Crisis and Resilience Fund has replaced the Household Support Fund from April 2026
What Is The DWP £299 Cost of Living Payment And Why Was It Introduced?
The £299 Cost of Living Payment was the third and final support instalment provided by the UK Government as part of its broader 2023 to 2024 cost of living package. It followed two previous payments of £301 and £300, taking the total financial support to £900 for households receiving eligible benefits or tax credits.
This financial aid was introduced in response to increasing inflation, energy bill surges, and the continuing effects of the pandemic on household income. It was meant to ease pressure on families and individuals facing hardship, especially those relying on income-related benefits.
The payment was a one-off, non-taxable, non-repayable transfer automatically deposited into the accounts of eligible individuals. It did not affect any existing benefits, nor did it count toward any savings thresholds for means-tested support.
The £299 payment wasn’t a standalone initiative. It was part of a package of multiple interventions from the government aimed at tackling the cost of living crisis in stages.
These included:
- Direct support through lump-sum payments
- Energy Bill Support Schemes (now ended)
- Increased Local Housing Allowance for some claimants
- Extended Household Support Fund (delivered via local councils)
The intention was not only to support short-term cash flow but to help vulnerable people weather sustained periods of high living costs across the 2023–24 fiscal year.
When Was The Final DWP £299 Payment Made?
The final £299 Cost of Living Payment was issued in February 2024. The exact dates varied slightly depending on whether the claimant received their benefits through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The distribution dates were as follows:
| Payment Group | Payment Window |
| DWP Benefit Recipients | 6 February to 22 February 2024 |
| HMRC Tax Credit Recipients | 16 February to 22 February 2024 |
These windows were communicated in advance on the GOV.UK website, as well as through various government press releases and benefit-related correspondence.
Most payments were made within the window automatically. In a few cases, delays were reported. These were primarily due to technical issues, mismatched bank details, or ongoing assessments during the qualifying period. The government urged claimants to wait until the end of the payment window before reporting a missing payment.
Unlike some other support schemes, this payment was not staggered by location or surname; the only differentiation was based on the benefit provider, DWP or HMRC.
The £299 payment concluded the scheduled national Cost of Living Payment series and, as of 2026, no further national instalments have been confirmed.
Who Was Eligible For The £299 Cost Of Living Payment?
Eligibility depended on the qualifying benefit involved. Universal Credit claimants generally needed to be entitled to a payment for an assessment period ending between 13 November and 12 December 2023.
For income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support and Pension Credit, entitlement was required for at least one day within that period. Tax-credit claimants needed a qualifying tax-credit payment relating to at least one day during the same period.
DWP-Issued Benefit Eligibility
You were eligible if, during the qualifying dates, you received one of the following:
- Universal Credit (but not if you had a zero award during that assessment period)
- Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
HMRC-Issued Tax Credit Eligibility
If you only received Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, and none of the DWP benefits, you could still qualify through HMRC. In this case, you would receive the payment via HMRC, not DWP, and your payment would arrive later in the window.
The following groups were not eligible:
- People receiving only New Style ESA, contributory ESA or New Style JSA did not qualify
- A Universal Credit nil award generally meant no payment, although exceptions applied for certain deductions and hardship payments
- Tax-credit claimants were not eligible where their annual tax-credit entitlement was below £26
Common Eligibility Scenarios Included
- Pensioners on Pension Credit
- Working-age adults receiving Universal Credit for housing costs and childcare
- Families on Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit only
- Disabled individuals on income-related ESA
The process did not require any action from the claimant. If you were eligible, you would receive the payment automatically into the same account where you receive your benefits.
Official GOV.UK guidance confirms that the £299 payment formed part of the completed 2022 to 2024 Cost of Living Payment programme. Eligibility was assessed automatically, and people who were later found to have been entitled to a qualifying benefit could still receive the relevant payment automatically.
That level of clarity was echoed throughout official communication channels, particularly on GOV.UK, where timelines and eligibility criteria were consistently updated.
How Can You Check If You Received The DWP £299 Payment?
For individuals unsure whether they received the payment or who suspect it may have been missed, there were straightforward ways to confirm.
The payment would appear in your bank statement with a reference such as:
- ‘DWP COL’ (Cost of Living)
- ‘HMRC COLS’ for tax credit-based payments
Steps To Confirm Receipt:
- Check your bank account used for benefit payments between 6–22 February or 16–22 February
- Match payment references to the official codes provided on GOV.UK
- Ensure that the payment wasn’t offset or redirected due to bank account issues
The previous online missing-payment reporting process is no longer the current route. GOV.UK now advises anyone who believes they qualified but cannot find the payment in their bank, building society or credit union account to contact the office that paid their qualifying benefit or tax credits.
Here’s a table outlining the verification process:
| Step | What To Do Now |
|---|---|
| Check Eligibility | Confirm that you met the rules for the relevant qualifying period |
| Check Bank Records | Look for your National Insurance number followed by “DWP COL”, or “HMRC COLS” |
| Missing Payment | Contact the office responsible for the qualifying benefit or tax credits |
The government also issued warnings against scammers, as some fraudsters attempted to contact people pretending to offer help in claiming payments. Official payments were always automatic and never required submission of personal data to third parties.
Will There Be Further Cost Of Living Payments From DWP In 2026?
As of August 2026, there is no new £299 payment or replacement nationwide DWP Cost of Living Payment scheduled. GOV.UK states directly that DWP is not planning to make any more Cost of Living Payments. The £299 instalment therefore remains the final means-tested Cost of Living Payment in the 2023 to 2024 series.
This does not mean all cost-of-living assistance has ended. Benefit and pension rates were updated for 2026/27, while crisis support continues through separate national and local schemes rather than another universal £299-style payment.
Current Financial Support Available In 2026
- Crisis and Resilience Fund in England: From 1 April 2026, this replaced the Household Support Fund and provides council-administered crisis and preventative financial assistance
- Housing Payments in England: The housing element of the Crisis and Resilience Fund replaces Discretionary Housing Payments, subject to transitional arrangements
- Higher 2026/27 benefit rates: Universal Credit, Pension Credit and many other benefits were uprated for the current benefit year
- Scottish Welfare Fund: People on low incomes in Scotland may be able to obtain Crisis Grants or Community Care Grants through their council
- Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales: Emergency Assistance Payments remain available for qualifying people facing financial hardship
The Crisis and Resilience Fund runs in England from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, providing local authorities with funding for immediate crisis assistance and longer-term financial resilience.
What Benefits Were Covered Under The Cost Of Living Payments Scheme?
The Cost of Living Payment scheme was restricted to income-related benefits and tax credits. The reason for this was to direct funds toward households most likely to be impacted by cost pressures.
Below is a table listing the covered and non-covered benefits:
| Covered Benefits | Not Covered (Even If On Low Income) |
| Universal Credit (income-based) | Contribution-Based JSA |
| Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) | New-Style Employment and Support Allowance |
| Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) | Carer’s Allowance |
| Income Support | Disability Living Allowance (DLA) |
| Pension Credit | Personal Independence Payment (PIP) |
| Working Tax Credit | Attendance Allowance |
| Child Tax Credit | Child Benefit |
Recipients of non-income-based benefits such as PIP or Carer’s Allowance were not eligible unless they also received one of the qualifying income-related benefits.
How Did The Three-Part Cost Of Living Payment Scheme Work?
The Cost of Living Payment scheme was designed with separate qualifying periods for each instalment to ensure only currently eligible claimants received support.
Here is a table showing the structure of all three payments:
| Payment | Amount | DWP Payment Dates For Most People | Qualifying Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | £301 | 25 April to 17 May 2023 | 26 January to 25 February 2023 |
| Second | £300 | 31 October to 19 November 2023 | 18 August to 17 September 2023 |
| Third | £299 | 6 February to 22 February 2024 | 13 November to 12 December 2023 |
Tax-credit-only claimants had slightly different HMRC payment windows. For the £299 instalment, HMRC payments were generally made between 16 and 22 February 2024. Each instalment had its own eligibility test, so receiving one payment did not automatically guarantee entitlement to another.
The separate qualifying periods allowed DWP and HMRC to assess entitlement independently for each instalment, meaning changes in a household’s circumstances could affect which of the three payments it received.
Conclusion
The £299 DWP Cost of Living Payment is now a historical payment rather than an ongoing benefit. It was the final instalment of the 2023 to 2024 means-tested Cost of Living Payment series, with most eligible households receiving it in February 2024.
As of August 2026, DWP says it is not planning further Cost of Living Payments. However, households facing financial difficulty may still have access to higher benefit rates and local crisis assistance. In England, the Crisis and Resilience Fund replaced the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2026 and is scheduled to operate until 31 March 2029.
Anyone who believes an old Cost of Living Payment was missed should check their payment history and contact the office responsible for the qualifying benefit or tax credits rather than relying on old online missing-payment instructions.
For the latest updates or to confirm benefit eligibility, visit the official GOV.UK Cost of Living Payment page.
FAQs about the DWP £299 Cost of Living Payment
Is The £299 Cost Of Living Payment Being Paid Again In 2026?
No. DWP currently says it is not planning to make any more Cost of Living Payments.
When Was The £299 DWP Cost Of Living Payment Paid?
Most eligible DWP claimants were paid between 6 and 22 February 2024. Tax-credit-only claimants were generally paid by HMRC between 16 and 22 February 2024.
Who Qualified For The £299 Payment?
It covered qualifying Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA and eligible Working or Child Tax Credit claimants who met the relevant qualifying-period rules.
Can I Still Report A Missing £299 Cost Of Living Payment?
If you believe you qualified but cannot find the payment, GOV.UK advises contacting the office that paid your qualifying benefit or tax credits.
What Did The £299 Payment Look Like On A Bank Statement?
DWP payments generally showed the recipient’s National Insurance number followed by DWP COL. HMRC payments used HMRC COLS.
Did Couples Receive Two £299 Payments?
No. Where there was a joint qualifying claim, only one £299 Cost of Living Payment was made for that joint claim.
What Has Replaced The Household Support Fund In 2026?
In England, the Crisis and Resilience Fund replaced the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2026 and provides council-administered crisis and preventative support.
