Who and when? - Cost of Living Payments

8th September 2022

Two payments totalling £650 are being made to more than eight million low-income households who receive the following benefits:

Universal Credit
income-based Jobseekers Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
working tax credit
child tax credit
pension credit

The first instalment of £326 was paid to about seven million of these people between 14 and 31 July. The payments were made automatically into bank accounts - usually marked "DWP Cost of Living".

The 1.1 million people who only receive tax credits, rather than any of the other benefits, have had to wait longer.

Their first payment is also automatic, and was due to be paid straight into bank accounts by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) between 2 and 7 September. This is identified differently, with the letters CL and their National Insurance number.

All eight million will receive their second instalment of £324 later in the year. The first group will receive the money in the autumn, and the smaller group of 1.1 million in the winter. No exact dates have yet been confirmed.