Will I get the DWP 2023 cost of living payment?

More than eight million households across the UK will receive the latest £301 cost-of-living support payment from the Government from Tuesday, 25 April, 2023.

It is the first of three payments, totaling up to £900 for people who are on certain means-tested benefits.

So, how exactly will those eligible receive payments from the DWP? Who qualifies for the payments? When exactly will people eligible for the payments receive them? 

Read on below for everything you need to know about the latest cost-of-living payments. 

Who will get cost of living payments?  

Households eligible for cost-of-living payments include people receiving Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Pension credit. 

The amount of benefits you received will not count against you – even if you only received £1, you will receive this payment. 

These payments will not be taxed, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. 

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: ‘This latest additional payment will be welcomed by millions of families – as will further payments due over the next year.

‘We have continually supported those most vulnerable to rising costs, including through record benefits and national living wage increases as well as these exceptional Cost of Living Payments responding to the global pressures we are facing.

‘We will also continue to deliver on our five priorities, including halving inflation, as this will ease pressure on households currently struggling with household bills and rising prices.’

What are the cost of living payment dates in 2023? 

This is the first of up to three payments for those eligible on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and tax credits, totalling £900 through 2023/24. 

In similar fashion to how payments were made in 2022, those claiming Tax Credits will receive their cost of living payment slightly later than those claiming Universal Credit or other benefits. 

Households receiving Tax Credits will receive their first payment between 2 and 9 May, according to The Sun. 

The payment will be made automatically by HMRC to those households who received a payment of Tax Credits between 26 January to 25 February, 2023.

These will be accompanied by a £150 payment for people on eligible disability benefits this summer, and a £300 payment on top of Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners at the end of 2023. 

The second of three instalments for cost-of-living payments is due in the autumn of 2023. 

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, said the ‘latest additional payment will be welcomed by millions of families’

How will I receive cost of payments?

The DWP will send payments automatically and directly to recipients’ bank accounts, with a reference of their National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP COL’. 

For example, if your National Insurance number is JT 83 42 97B your payment will be visible under the reference ‘DWP COLP JT 83 42 97B’ on your statement. 

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt stated: ‘The best thing we can do to help people’s money go further is deliver on our priorities to halve inflation and grow the economy.

‘But we’re also here to help people through these tough times, which is why we’re holding down energy bills, freezing fuel duty, increasing Universal Credit, and giving £900 payments to low income and vulnerable families – all in part funded through windfall taxes on energy profits.’