Government Announces Schedule for Issuing Cost of Living Payments During 2023/2024
The government has announced its schedule for issuing the 2023/2024 cost of living payments.
- Low income households will be receiving £900 paid in three instalments across the year
- The £150 disability payment will be made in the summer
- The £300 pensioner payment will be made in the winter
As part of his Autumn Statement in November 2022, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that, following the 2022/2023 cost of living payments, further payments would be made across the UK in 2023/2024.
Providing further details, the DWP has confirmed that the schedule for payments will be:
- First cost of living payment of £301 issued during spring 2023
- £150 disability payment issued during summer 2023
- Second cost of living payment of £300 issued during autumn 2023
- £300 pensioner payment issued during winter 2023/2024
- Third cost of living payment of £299 issued during spring 2024
The DWP added:
‘Exact payment windows will be announced closer to the time, but are spread across a longer period to ensure a consistent support offering throughout the year… If individuals are eligible they will be paid automatically, and there will be no need to apply. Claimants who are eligible for any of the cost of living payments and receive tax credits, and no other means-tested benefits, will receive payment from HMRC shortly after DWP payments are issued.’
For more information, visit Millions of low-income households to get new Cost of Living Payments from Spring 2023
Alternative Fuel Payment Support
The government is also providing a further £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP). This payment will be made to help those households in Great Britain who use alternative fuels such as biomass or heating oil to meet energy costs this winter.
Most households eligible for the AFP support in Great Britain, will receive the payment automatically via their electricity supplier in February, with no need to take any action.
In some cases households will need to apply for the AFP. An example of this might be because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier. If a household has to apply for the AFP, they will be able to do so in February. The application will be made through the same GOV.UK portal as the one that will be used to apply for support under the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding scheme.