Are there any cost of living payments in 2026?
There is currently no new UK-wide cost of living payment scheduled for 2026. The previous programme provided automatic payments to qualifying people receiving means-tested benefits, disability benefits or Pension Credit.
The final means-tested payment was £299, paid between 6 February and 22 February 2024. This completed the wider £900 payment package for 2023/24.
Fraud warning: DWP cost of living payments were automatic. Be suspicious of texts, emails or social media adverts asking you to apply, share bank details or pay a fee to release an outstanding payment.
Government support can change following a Budget or fiscal statement. Check GOV.UK and your local authority rather than relying on social media claims about a new payment.
Previous payments and what they covered
The phrase “cost of living payment” covered several separate schemes. Eligibility depended on the benefit received and, for means-tested payments, entitlement during a specific qualifying period.
| Payment type | Amount | When it applied | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Means-tested benefit payments | £900 in total | Three instalments during 2023/24 | Ended |
| Disability Cost of Living Payment | £150 | Primarily paid during summer 2023 | Ended |
| Pensioner Cost of Living Payment | £150 or £300 | Added to eligible 2023/24 Winter Fuel Payments | Ended |
| Final means-tested instalment | £299 | February 2024 | Ended |
The payments were generally tax-free, did not count towards the benefit cap and did not reduce an existing benefit award. They were also disregarded when assessing entitlement to means-tested benefits.
If an expected historical payment never arrived, use the official GOV.UK guidance to check the qualifying benefit and payment dates. Reporting routes may be limited for closed schemes, but DWP can still explain entries shown on your benefit record.
What support can households claim instead?
Although the dedicated payments have stopped, help remains available through the benefits system, councils and energy-support schemes. Eligibility is usually based on income, savings, household circumstances, housing costs or vulnerability.
- Universal Credit: support for eligible people on a low income or out of work, including possible help with rent, children, caring responsibilities or health conditions.
- Pension Credit: an income top-up for people over State Pension age, which can also unlock other help.
- Council Tax Reduction: a locally administered reduction for households on a low income.
- Discretionary Housing Payments: short-term council assistance where Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element does not cover eligible rent.
- Local welfare assistance: emergency support that may include supermarket vouchers, energy help, essential appliances or crisis grants.
- Warm Home Discount: an electricity-bill discount for qualifying households under the rules applying to that scheme year.
Start with a full benefits calculation rather than looking only for a one-off grant. See Check which benefits you could claim and Find help with Council Tax.
SupportFund tip: Pension Credit can provide access to linked support even where the weekly award is small. A claim can normally be backdated by up to three months if the qualifying conditions were met throughout that period.
How to get emergency help from your council
Local authorities may provide crisis help using their own welfare schemes or government-backed funding. In England, the Household Support Fund has supported help with essentials, but councils set their own criteria, application windows and award types.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland operate different welfare and crisis-support arrangements. Search your council or devolved government website using terms such as “local welfare assistance”, “crisis grant”, “emergency support” or “Household Support Fund”.
- Gather recent bank statements, benefit letters, proof of identity and evidence of rent or energy arrears.
- Explain the immediate risk, such as having no food, no electricity or being unable to replace an essential appliance.
- List the support already requested from your energy supplier, landlord or benefit office.
- Apply promptly because local budgets and application windows can close before the end of a funding period.
An award may be a voucher, direct payment to a supplier or provision of goods rather than cash. Read How to apply for the Household Support Fund before submitting evidence.
Important: Do not move or give away savings solely to qualify for means-tested help. DWP or a council may treat this as deprivation of capital and assess you as still owning the money.
What to do if your income no longer covers bills
Prioritise rent or mortgage payments, Council Tax, gas, electricity and essential food. Contact creditors early: energy suppliers must consider affordable repayment options and may operate hardship funds for customers in financial difficulty.
If a benefit payment is delayed or stopped, ask the relevant office for a written decision and information about reconsideration or appeal rights. Universal Credit claimants facing immediate hardship may be able to request an advance, although most advances must be repaid from future awards.
SupportFund.co.uk helps households identify emergency support, reduce essential bills and navigate local assistance. Keep copies of applications and note deadlines, reference numbers and the name of any adviser you speak to.
For serious debt, threatened eviction, bailiff action or disconnection concerns, seek free regulated debt or housing advice. Avoid fee-charging claims firms promising access to a “hidden” government payment.