Cost of Living Payments 2023 - Eligibility/Qualifying Period?

nero33

Hi

Does anyone know what dates you had to be in receipt of certain benefits (eg Universal Credit / ESA etc) in order to be eligible for the next round of Cost of Living Payments in 2023?

Thanks

rjsimmonds

I don't think it's been announced yet, sorry.

MattMattMattUK

The guidance was published on the 13th and last updated on the 14th, it will be updated with the qualifying period when the payment dates are announced. 

This guidance will be updated with the qualifying dates for each payment when they have been announced.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payments-2023-to-2024

mongoose2009

i would imagine in April so in the new tax year

so quality period would be probably be Dec 24 and Jan 25 

NedS

mongoose2009 said:

i would imagine in April so in the new tax year

so quality period would be probably be Dec 24 and Jan 25 

The first qualifying period will be much more recent than that - more likely March/April. The qualifying date must be no later than 30/4/2023. Then first payment likely in May.

HillStreetBlues

Think there will be announcement very soon as the Bill will get royal assent in the next few days.

gregrichards

Page two of today’s Daily Record Newspaper has a statement from the DWP stating that the first 2023 Cost of Living payment of £301 will be paid to people who qualify for it between the 25th of April and the 17th of May 2023. It does not state when the qualifying period is for when you had to be in receipt of Universal Credit or other benefits in order to receive this payment. 

gregrichards

‘£301 Cost of Living Payment eligibility

Universal Credit

You are eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £301 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.

Income-based JSA, income-based ESA, Income Support and Pension Credit

You are eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £301 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.

You are also eligible if you are entitled to one of these benefits for any day during this period but you do not receive a benefit payment because your entitlement is between 1 penny and 9 pence.

Tax credits

You are eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £301 if you received a payment of tax credits for any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023, or you are later found to have been entitled to a payment for this period.

£300 and £299 Cost of Living Payments

This guidance will be updated with the qualifying dates for the £300 and £299 Cost of Living Payments when they have been announced.

When you will not be eligible: ‘Nil awards’

You will not be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if your benefit is reduced to £0 for the qualifying period. This is sometimes called a ‘nil award’.

For example, if you get Universal Credit, reasons your benefit may be reduced to £0 include getting more than one payment of earnings, your or your partner’s earnings go up, your or your partner’s savings go up, you start getting another benefit.

If money has been taken off for other reasons (such as payments of rent to your landlord or for money that you owe), you might still be eligible.’

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payments-2023-to-2024

gbhxu

Thanks for the info.

HillStreetBlues

The £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment  dates haven't been announced.

gbhxu

HillStreetBlues said:

The £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment  dates haven't been announced.

Yes, all we have is Summer