Millions to receive first £301 instalment of £900 cost-of-living payment next month

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will soon be making the first instalment of the £900 cost of living payments next month. The support is part of the Government's plan to help those struggling financially with three payments of £300 over the course of the year.

The government has announced the dates for the first payment to help those struggling with the cost of living crisis. Those eligible will receive £301 between April 25 and May 17, 2023.

The initiative was described by Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride, on Gov.uk:

We are sticking by our promise to protect the most vulnerable and these payments, worth hundreds of pounds, will provide vital support next year for those on the lowest incomes.

Millions to receive benefits

It is expected that millions of people on means-tested benefits will receive the payments after it was first announced in last year’s Autumn Statement.

Those receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and tax credits will get additional support next month with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt commenting, as per My London:

I know these are tough times for families across the UK who are struggling to meet rising food and energy costs, driven by the aftershocks of Covid and Putin’s war in Ukraine. That’s why we’re putting a further £900 into the pockets of over 8 million low-income households next year.

These payments are on top of above-inflation increases to working-age benefits and the Energy Price Guarantee, which is insulating millions from even higher global gas prices. Tackling inflation is this government’s number one priority and is the only way to ease the strain of high prices, drive long-term economic growth and improve living standards for everyone.

Read more:

⋙ Payments you can expect in February, from cost-of-living support to state benefits

⋙ Extra £900 cost of living payment announced, find out if you're eligible

When to expect the payments

In addition to this support, there will be a further £150 payment for over six million people living with disabilities and another £300 for over eight million pensioners on top of their Winter Fuel Payments.

Those eligible will see the payments transferred automatically and do not need to apply. The DWP has yet to confirm the exact dates of the payments but has published the following timeline for the support and payment amounts:

£301 – First Cost of Living Payment – between April 25 and May 17, 2023

£150 – Disability Payment – during Summer 2023

£300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023

£300 – Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/4

£299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024

It is just one of the many ways the government is offering help to low-income households during these difficult times. You can read more about the Government’s cost of living support on their Help for Households website.

Read more:

⋙ Thousands of Brits will get £500 in cost-of-living payments soon, check if you're eligible

Sources used:

- My London 'DWP: When you can expect the first £301 cost of living payment of 2023'

- Gov.uk 'Millions of low-income households to get new Cost of Living Payments from Spring 2023'

- The Sun: Cost of Living payment 2023 latest — Millions to receive DWP £301 cash boost in April – who is eligible?