People on certain benefits are eligible for a one-off cash sum of £900 this year split into three payments to help cope with the soaring cost of living.
The first instalment of £301 has already been sent out to those who are eligible, such as Universal Credit claimants, and there are two more payments on the way for the rest of the year.
There's no need to apply for these either, as the payments of £300 and £299 will automatically hit bank accounts like normal benefits do when the rollout begins.
Manchester Evening News reports that the DWP hasn't announced the dates of the next two payments yet, but last year's dates may be able to provide a few clues.
Here's everything we know so far about the payment pattern and when the next one could be.
When is the next £300 DWP cost of living payment?
Taking a look back over last year, the government handed out a cost of living payment worth £650 to people on means-tested benefits in 2022.
While this year's £900 payment is being split into three separate instalments, last year's £650 payment was split into just two - one of £326 and one of £324.
The first was paid to the majority of people between July 14 and 31, while the second payment was made between November 8 and 23 - so around four months apart.
This year, the first payment was sent out between April 25 and May 17.
And if the DWP continues to leave a four-month gap between payments, this suggests the next one could be round about August 22 next month.
However, the government has said that the next instalment will be paid out in the 'autumn', meaning it may be closer to September or October.
When will the exact dates be announced?
It's expected that the DWP will announce the next payment dates around a month before they take place, as was the case last year.
The department confirmed the payment date for the first instalment on June 15, which was four weeks before it was paid out.
Then, for the second payment which began in mid-November, the DWP announced the dates five weeks before on October 3.
The pattern seems to have continued this year with the payment date for the first instalment of the £900 payment announced four weeks before the payment window started.
More cost of living payments on the way
There are three cost of living payments in total being distributed by the government this year, including this £900 one.
People on disability benefits can claim a payment of £150, and eligible pensioners can also claim a payment of up to £300. That means the total amount of support that one person may be able to get over this year and next is £1,050.
As the £900 payment is split into three instalments, there are five payments in total being sent out.
The payment window for the £150 disability payment has now closed and anyone who thinks they are missing their payment will be able to report it on the DWP website from today.
Here is when the remaining three cost of living payments for 2023/24 can be expected.
- £300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023
- £300 – Pensioner Cost of Living Payment – from November (with Winter Fuel payment)
- £299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024
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