The UK government rolled out a major series of cash payments aimed at supporting vulnerable households through rising energy and food bills. The final tranche of this package — a payment of £299 — forms part of the broader “Cost of Living Payments” initiative. This article explains the payment in depth: eligibility, key dates, amounts, how it was delivered, reasons you might not have received it, and what the future holds.
What is the £299 Cost of Living Payment?
The £299 payment was the third and final instalment of the means-tested Cost of Living Payments (COLP) aimed at low-income households.
The government announced that this payment would go out automatically to eligible claimants without requiring a separate application.
It was designed to mitigate the impact of higher costs of living and to complement other support measures (such as warm-home discounts, inflation up ratings and winter-fuel payments).
Key Features and Payment Schedule
Here is an overview table covering the main details of the payment:
| Feature | Description | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | £299 for eligible claimants on certain means-tested benefits or tax credits. | It is the final tranche of the package, so missing it means missing the last part of up to £900 support. |
| Eligibility window | For many, you had to be entitled to a qualifying benefit between 13 November and 12 December 2023 (or assessment period ending in that window) for low-income benefits. | If you were not receiving a qualifying benefit during that period, you may not qualify. |
| Payment period | The payments were made by DWP between 6 February and 22 February 2024 for most low-income benefit claimants. For tax-credit-only customers, payments via HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) came between 16 and 22 February 2024. | Knowing the payment window helps you check your bank statement and detect if the payment is missing. |
| Automatic payment | No application required – payment based on your existing benefit or tax-credit entitlement. | This reduces the burden on claimants, but means you must already meet eligibility conditions in advance. |
| Payment method/reference | The payment appears in your bank account via the same route as your benefit award. The payment reference should read something like “DWP COL” along with your National Insurance number. | This helps you identify the payment and verify whether it has arrived. |
| No further instalments planned | According to the DWP guidance page, the department is not planning to make any more means-tested Cost of Living Payments. | This means this payment was the final one in that series — missing it may mean there is no “next time”. |
Who Was Eligible & Who Wasn’t
Qualifying benefits
To receive the £299 payment you typically had to be entitled to one or more of the following during the eligibility window (or an assessment period ending within it):
- Universal Credit (UC) – an assessment period ending between 13 Nov and 12 Dec 2023.
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit / Child Tax Credit via HMRC (for those not on UC)
Not eligible
- Those who only receive “contributory” or “new-style” benefits (e.g., New Style ESA, New Style JSA) without an income-related award are typically excluded.
- If you did not receive a qualifying benefit during the relevant window or had a “nil award” (zero payment) for your assessment period, you may not be eligible.
Reasons You Might Not Have Received It
Despite automatic payment, many have been asking “why didn’t I get it?” Here are some common reasons:
- Your assessment period ended outside the qualifying window (e.g., after 12 December 2023 for UC).
- You received a nil award in that period (i.e., benefit payment was £0) so no “entitlement payment” counted.
- Your bank or building society details changed, delaying the payment routing.
- You were on a joint claim, and the payment was sent to only one account holder (this is how joint claims are handled).
- You thought you were eligible but were on a non-qualifying benefit type.
If you believe you were eligible and still didn’t receive the payment, you can report it via the official DWP guidance on missing payments.
What Next & Legacy of the Payment
The £299 payment closes off the means-tested Cost of Living Payments element that supported low-income households. According to the guidance page it states: “DWP is not planning to make any more Cost of Living Payments.”
This means households now need to consider other ongoing supports such as:
- Annual benefit up ratings and indexation
- Local schemes like the Household Support Fund (HSF) administered by councils
- Winter fuel support, Cold Weather Payments (if eligible)
- Other disability, pensioner or local hardship schemes
For policy analysts the payment demonstrates how cash-transfers can deliver quick support in cost-shocks, but also that “one-off” payments alone may not be enough to address structural cost pressures on low-income households.
FAQs in One Line
Q1: Do I need to apply for the £299 Cost of Living Payment?
No — if you were eligible the payment was automatic, no separate application was required.
Q2: What if I was eligible but only claimed a qualifying benefit after 12 December 2023?
If your benefit entitlement began after the qualifying window (13 Nov-12 Dec 2023) then you most likely did not qualify for this payment.
Q3: Will there be another means-tested Cost of Living Payment after the £299?
No — current guidance from the DWP states no further Cost of Living Payments are planned.