What the cost of living payments were — and that they've ended
Between July 2022 and February 2024, the government made a series of one-off Cost of Living Payments to help with high prices. They were paid automatically by the DWP or HMRC, depending on the benefit you got. There were three groups of payment:
| Who | What they got (the series, now ended) |
|---|
| Means-tested benefits (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support, tax credits) | Three payments totalling £900 across 2023/24 — the final £299 arriving in February 2024 |
| Certain disability benefits | A separate £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment |
| Pensioner households | A Pensioner Cost of Living Payment added to the Winter Fuel Payment |
That scheme has closed. The £299 payment in February 2024 was the third and last in the series, and the government has not announced any further national cost-of-living payments. So waiting for "the next one" means waiting for a payment that isn't coming. The good news: the help below does exist — and a lot of it is missed money.
What replaced them
Rather than one big national lump sum, support is now spread across ongoing benefits and council-run funds. The biggest change to know about:
Household Support Fund → Crisis & Resilience Fund
In England, the Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026 it was replaced by the Crisis & Resilience Fund (CRF), run by your local council and funded through to March 2029.
It is not broad automatic payments — it is targeted, needs-based help for people facing genuine hardship (help with food, energy and essentials), and you usually apply through your council. See our Crisis & Resilience Fund guide.
Alongside that, the everyday safety net does the heavy lifting: Universal Credit and Pension Credit for income, plus the seasonal energy schemes below. None of these are new — but a huge amount goes unclaimed each year.
Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland: own schemes
The benefits above are UK-wide, but crisis and welfare funds are devolved, so the local schemes differ:
Different nations, different funds
Scotland runs the Scottish Welfare Fund (Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants) through councils, plus Social Security Scotland payments such as the Winter Heating Payment and Scottish Child Payment — see mygov.scot.
Wales has the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) for emergency and essential costs.
Northern Ireland provides crisis help through Discretionary Support (Finance Support) and Advice NI. Whichever nation you're in, your local council or advice service can point you to the right fund.
Source verification
Primary sources: GOV.UK Cost of Living Payment guidance + House of Commons Library + Citizens Advice + GOV.UK Crisis & Resilience Fund / Household Support Fund ·
gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment. Last verified 10 June 2026. Confidence: High — DWP Cost of Living Payments ran July 2022–Feb 2024; final means-tested payment of £299 paid Feb 2024; no further national payments announced for 2025/26. Household Support Fund (England) ended 31 Mar 2026, replaced 1 Apr 2026 by the council-run Crisis & Resilience Fund (to Mar 2029). Key rule: the one-off DWP payments have ended — current help comes through ongoing benefits (Pension Credit, Universal Credit), winter schemes (£150 Warm Home Discount, £25 Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment) and council crisis funds. Scope: UK — benefits UK-wide; crisis/welfare funds devolved (England CRF, Scottish Welfare Fund, Wales DAF, NI Discretionary Support). Figures change — verify with GOV.UK.
Cost of living payment — common questions
Is there a cost of living payment in 2026?
No. The DWP Cost of Living Payments ran from July 2022 to February 2024 and have ended. The final means-tested payment of £299 was paid in February 2024, and the government has not announced any further national cost-of-living payments for 2025/26 or 2026. If you see a website promising a new lump-sum "cost of living payment", treat it with caution. Real help still exists, but it now comes through ongoing benefits and schemes rather than one-off DWP lump sums — Pension Credit, Universal Credit, the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment, and your council's Crisis & Resilience Fund.
When is the next cost of living payment?
There isn't one. The last in the series was the £299 payment in February 2024, which was the third and final payment for 2023/24. No further DWP cost-of-living payments have been announced. Instead of waiting for a payment that isn't coming, the most valuable thing to do is check you're claiming everything you're entitled to — start with a free benefits check and Pension Credit, then look at the Warm Home Discount and your council's local welfare fund.
What replaced the Household Support Fund?
In England, the Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026 and was replaced from 1 April 2026 by the Crisis & Resilience Fund (CRF), administered by councils. It is not broad automatic payments — it is targeted, needs-based help for people facing genuine financial hardship, and you usually apply through your local council. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own crisis and welfare schemes.
What cost of living help can I still get now?
Plenty — but it comes through ongoing support, not one-off DWP lump sums. Check your entitlement to Pension Credit and Universal Credit, the £150 Warm Home Discount, the £25 Cold Weather Payment, the Winter Fuel Payment for older people, your council's Crisis & Resilience Fund and local welfare help, energy and water bill support, Council Tax Reduction, Healthy Start for families, and food banks for emergency food. A free benefits check is the fastest way to find what applies to you.
Did people on Universal Credit and Pension Credit get the cost of living payments?
Yes — while the scheme ran (2022 to February 2024), the means-tested Cost of Living Payments went automatically to people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support and tax credits. Separate payments also went to people on certain disability benefits and to pensioner households. Those payments have now ended, but being on Pension Credit or Universal Credit still unlocks other help such as the Cold Weather Payment and Warm Home Discount — which is why checking your entitlement matters.
Sources: DWP Cost of Living Payments ran July 2022–February 2024; the final means-tested £299 payment was paid in February 2024, with no further national cost-of-living payments announced · GOV.UK Cost of Living Payment guidance + House of Commons Library briefings. England's Household Support Fund ended 31 March 2026 and was replaced from 1 April 2026 by the council-run Crisis & Resilience Fund (running to March 2029) · GOV.UK + UK Parliament written statement (25 Mar 2026). Current help: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Warm Home Discount (£150), Cold Weather Payment (£25), Winter Fuel Payment, Council Tax Reduction, Healthy Start, plus Citizens Advice and food banks for emergency help. Crisis/welfare funds are devolved (Scottish Welfare Fund, Wales Discretionary Assistance Fund, NI Discretionary Support). Figures change — always check GOV.UK and your local council. Last reviewed: 10 June 2026.