Over eight million families are set to receive the £301 cost of living payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between April 25 and May 17, 2023. The lump sum is the first part of the £900 means-tested cost of living support from the UK Government’s 2023/24 financial package, which is worth £37 billion in total.
Payments of £301 will land automatically into eligible claimants’ bank accounts during the payment window, so there’s no need to make a claim. However, the qualifying period is slightly different for people on means-tested benefits other than Universal Credit.
Guidance on GOV.UK explains that people on Income-based JobSeeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support and Pension Credit will be due the £301 payment if they were entitled to a payment - or later found to be entitled to a payment - of those benefits for “any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023”.
