No. There is no new £299 DWP Cost of Living Payment being paid in 2026.
The £299 payment still appearing in search results and social media posts was the final instalment of the government’s 2023/24 means-tested Cost of Living Payment scheme. Most eligible Department for Work and Pensions claimants received it between 6 February and 22 February 2024.
Current government guidance is now particularly clear. There will be no Cost of Living Payment in 2026, and no further payments under the previous nationwide scheme are currently planned.
This means anyone seeing claims about a fresh £299 payment should check when the information was published and whether it comes from an official source.
Similar confusion has surrounded other supposed one-off payments. Claims about a Universal Credit £325 payment have also circulated despite no new £325 Cost of Living Payment being scheduled.
Last Updated: 19.08.2026
What Is the Latest DWP Cost of Living Update for 2026?
Although the old Cost of Living Payment programme has ended, the way financial support is provided has changed significantly during 2026.
The most important developments are the introduction of the Crisis and Resilience Fund in England, changes to Universal Credit and the continued move away from several legacy benefits.
Crisis and Resilience Fund Replaces the Household Support Fund
One of the biggest changes happened on 1 April 2026, when the new Crisis and Resilience Fund launched in England.
The fund provides money to local authorities to support people experiencing a financial crisis and to develop longer-term financial resilience. It runs from 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2029.
This is particularly important because older articles may still direct struggling households towards the Household Support Fund.
The newer Crisis and Resilience Fund is now the relevant local-authority support framework in England. Exactly what is available and who qualifies can depend on the council operating the scheme.
Universal Credit Changed in April 2026
Universal Credit also changed significantly from April 2026.
The two-child limit ended on 6 April 2026, meaning Universal Credit can now include the child element for every qualifying child rather than normally restricting support to the first two children. Increased payments resulting from the change began appearing from May or June depending on individual assessment periods.
Universal Credit standard allowances also increased for 2026/27. Current monthly standard allowances include:
| Circumstances | 2026/27 Monthly Standard Allowance |
| Single And Under 25 | £338.58 |
| Single And 25 Or Over | £424.90 |
| Couple Both Under 25 | £528.34 |
| Couple With Either Person 25 Or Over | £666.97 |
These are ongoing benefit changes rather than another Cost of Living Payment.
The difference is important. A higher regular Universal Credit award should not be mistaken for a new £299 payment.
Legacy Benefits Have Continued Moving Towards Universal Credit
The wider benefits system has also continued changing during 2026 as more people move from older benefits to Universal Credit.
People receiving older benefits should pay close attention to any migration notices or DWP correspondence rather than assuming their existing arrangements will continue indefinitely. The changes affecting people moving from Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance are covered in the recent DWP benefits transition update.
Why Are People Still Hearing About a £299 DWP Payment?
The main reason is that the original payment was real.
Millions of people were genuinely entitled to the £299 payment in 2024, so old articles and social posts can look convincing when they reappear without their original dates.
Confusion can arise from:
- Old News Articles being reshared as though they contain a new announcement
- Social Media Posts removing the original payment dates
- Misleading Headlines suggesting an old payment has returned
- Different DWP Payments appearing in bank accounts at similar times
- Speculative Claims about future government support
- Scam Messages using familiar DWP payment amounts to attract clicks
Other payment rumours have followed the same pattern. For example, online discussion around a supposed £450 Cost of Living Payment has also caused confusion, even though no universal £450 Cost of Living Payment has been confirmed.
The safest approach is to separate historical Cost of Living Payments from normal benefits and any genuinely new government announcements.
What Was the £299 Cost of Living Payment?
The £299 Cost of Living Payment was the final instalment of the government’s 2023/24 means-tested Cost of Living Payment package.
It followed earlier payments of £301 and £300, bringing the total means-tested support for the 2023/24 programme to £900 for people who qualified for all three instalments.
The £299 payment was:
- Automatic for eligible claimants
- Tax-Free
- Not Counted Towards The Benefit Cap
- Paid Separately From Normal Benefits
- Not Dependent On Making A New Application
The original article correctly identified it as a concluded February 2024 payment rather than an ongoing scheme.
When Was the £299 Cost of Living Payment Made?
Most eligible people receiving qualifying DWP benefits were paid between:
6 February and 22 February 2024
Tax credit-only claimants who qualified through HMRC were generally paid between:
16 February and 22 February 2024
These dates are historical. They should not be interpreted as a recurring February payment or evidence that £299 will be paid again in 2026.
Normal benefits continue to follow their individual schedules. Universal Credit is generally paid monthly, while Pension Credit, PIP and several other benefits operate under different cycles. The UK benefits payment schedule shows how those regular payment patterns differ.
Bank holidays can also change the date on which an ordinary benefit reaches an account. In those situations, a payment may arrive early without representing extra DWP support. Previous DWP revised payment dates show how scheduled benefits can be adjusted around public holidays.
Who Was Eligible for the £299 Cost of Living Payment?
The £299 payment was targeted at people receiving particular means-tested benefits or tax credits during the qualifying period.
Qualifying benefits included:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-Related Employment And Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Receiving one of these benefits today does not mean a person is entitled to a new £299 payment. Eligibility was based on circumstances during the original 2023 qualifying period.
What Was the £299 Qualifying Period?
For Universal Credit, claimants generally needed to have been entitled to a payment for an assessment period ending between 13 November 2023 and 12 December 2023.
For Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA and Pension Credit, the general requirement was entitlement for at least one day between 13 November and 12 December 2023.
Tax credit claimants were also assessed against the relevant qualifying period.
The exact rules differed slightly according to which benefit someone received, which is why two people with similar financial circumstances could have had different outcomes.
Did a Universal Credit Nil Award Affect Eligibility?
Yes.
A person was generally not eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if their qualifying benefit had been reduced to £0 during the relevant period. This is commonly known as a nil award.
Reasons could include:
- Higher Earnings during an assessment period
- A Partner’s Earnings Increasing
- Savings Increasing
- Another Benefit Starting
- A Benefit Sanction
There were exceptions in certain circumstances, including some cases where deductions caused the award to reach zero or where a hardship payment applied.
Can You Still Receive the £299 If You Were Eligible but Never Got It?
There is no new application process that allows someone to claim the £299 simply because they currently receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit.
However, historical entitlement is different.
Current government guidance says a Cost of Living Payment can still be made later if someone is subsequently awarded a qualifying benefit for the relevant historical period. Payments can also be delayed where bank details changed or entitlement was decided later.
Anyone who believes the DWP or HMRC has incorrectly assessed their historical eligibility should contact the office responsible for the qualifying benefit.
Before assuming a payment is missing, it is also worth checking:
- The Original Qualifying Period
- Old Benefit Statements
- Bank Statements Covering February 2024
- Whether The Claim Was A Joint Claim
- Whether The Benefit Had A Nil Award
- Whether HMRC Rather Than DWP Was Responsible
For joint claims, only one Cost of Living Payment was made for the joint award rather than £299 being paid separately to both partners.
Is Another DWP Cost of Living Payment Planned After 2026?
There is currently no announced replacement for the previous nationwide Cost of Living Payment programme.
The government’s current Cost of Living support guidance states that there will be no Cost of Living Payment for 2026 and that no more payments are planned in the future.
That is stronger wording than simply saying another £299 payment has not yet been announced.
It means people should not currently expect another:
- £299 Cost Of Living Payment
- £301 Cost Of Living Payment
- £300 Cost Of Living Payment
- £325 Cost Of Living Payment
- £450 Universal Payment
Future governments can introduce new financial-support policies, but a future possibility should never be presented as a confirmed payment before an official announcement is made.
What Financial Support Is Available Instead of the £299 Payment?
The end of the Cost of Living Payment scheme does not mean that all financial assistance has ended.
Support in 2026 is increasingly provided through existing benefits, local-authority schemes and targeted programmes rather than a nationwide £299 payment.
Crisis and Resilience Fund
People experiencing immediate financial difficulties in England can check what help their local authority offers through the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
The scheme can provide crisis support while also funding services intended to improve longer-term financial resilience. Local eligibility rules and application procedures can differ.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit remains one of the main forms of means-tested support for working-age households on a low income or out of work.
The exact amount depends on factors such as:
- Age
- Relationship Status
- Children
- Housing Costs
- Earnings
- Savings
- Health Conditions
- Caring Responsibilities
The April 2026 changes mean some households may now receive more through their normal Universal Credit award, particularly families affected by the removal of the two-child limit.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit remains particularly important for people over State Pension age with a lower income.
It can increase weekly income and may also open access to additional forms of help. Checking entitlement matters because some older households who qualify do not claim all the support available to them, an issue also highlighted in research into pensioners missing benefits.
Disability-Related Benefits
People whose health condition or disability affects everyday activities may qualify for separate disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment.
These are not replacement Cost of Living Payments. They are ongoing benefits with their own eligibility rules and payment rates.
Local Council Support
Councils may offer different forms of assistance depending on local funding and household circumstances.
Potential support can include help with:
- Food
- Energy Costs
- Water Costs
- Essential Household Items
- Emergency Financial Pressures
- Housing-Related Costs
Because the Crisis and Resilience Fund is administered locally, someone living in Preston may not receive exactly the same form of support as a household in another council area.
How Can You Check What Financial Support You Can Get in 2026?
The benefits system contains several different schemes, which means it is possible to miss support by focusing only on old Cost of Living Payments.
A practical starting point is to review existing benefit entitlement and then check local assistance.
The Citizens Advice cost of living support information covers benefits and other options available to households struggling with everyday costs.
Another option is the Turn2us Benefits Calculator, which can estimate means-tested benefit entitlement based on household circumstances.
When checking support:
- Review Current Benefits and make sure all circumstances are up to date
- Check Your Local Council for Crisis and Resilience Fund assistance
- Use A Benefits Calculator to identify possible missed entitlement
- Read DWP Correspondence carefully
- Check Your Universal Credit Account if you receive Universal Credit
- Use Official Sources before acting on payment rumours
This is more reliable than waiting for social-media posts claiming that another one-off DWP payment is about to arrive.
How Can You Spot Fake £299 DWP Payment Messages?
Scammers frequently use government payments because recipients are likely to recognise names such as DWP, HMRC or Universal Credit.
A message should be treated cautiously if it says that you need to provide personal information immediately to receive a new £299 payment.
Common warning signs include:
- Urgent Claim Deadlines
- Requests For Bank Details
- Requests For Card Information
- Links To Unfamiliar Websites
- Promises Of Guaranteed DWP Money
- Claims That Everyone Qualifies
- Requests For A Fee Before Payment
- No Supporting Government Announcement
The original £299 payment was automatic for qualifying claimants. People did not have to follow an unsolicited text-message link and enter bank information to receive it.
This is why an unexpected message saying “claim your £299 today” should not be treated as proof that the scheme has returned.
What Were the Previous DWP Cost of Living Payments?
The £299 payment formed part of a wider series of temporary payments introduced during the earlier cost-of-living crisis.
| Payment | Main Payment Period |
| £326 | July 2022 |
| £324 | November 2022 |
| £301 | April To May 2023 |
| £300 | October To November 2023 |
| £299 | February 2024 |
| New 2026 Cost Of Living Payment | None Planned |
The later three payments of £301, £300 and £299 formed the £900 means-tested support package for 2023/24.
Seeing one of these old figures in an online article does not mean the payment is being repeated.
What Should You Know Before Expecting a DWP Payment in 2026?
The most important distinction is between regular benefit payments and the old one-off Cost of Living Payment programme.
The £299 payment was genuine, but it belonged to a qualifying period in 2023 and was mainly paid in February 2024. There is no new £299 payment scheduled for 2026.
At the same time, financial support has not disappeared.
Universal Credit changed in April 2026, the two-child limit ended, benefit rates were updated and England introduced the Crisis and Resilience Fund to provide local crisis and resilience support.
For households facing financial pressure, checking current entitlement is therefore more useful than relying on old headlines about £299.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DWP Giving Everyone £299 in 2026?
No. There is no new £299 DWP Cost of Living Payment scheduled for 2026. The payment being discussed online was mainly issued in February 2024.
Will There Be a Cost of Living Payment in 2026?
No. Current government guidance says there will be no Cost of Living Payment in 2026 and no further payments under the previous scheme are planned.
Is the £299 DWP Payment Real?
Yes, but it is historical. The £299 was the final instalment of the 2023/24 means-tested Cost of Living Payment package.
Can I Apply for the £299 Cost of Living Payment Now?
No new applications are available. Eligibility depended on receiving qualifying benefits or tax credits during the original qualifying period.
What Should I Do If I Never Received My £299 Payment?
Check whether you met the original eligibility rules and review your February 2024 bank and benefit records. If you believe your historical entitlement was assessed incorrectly, contact the office responsible for the qualifying benefit.
What Replaced the Household Support Fund in England?
The Crisis and Resilience Fund launched on 1 April 2026 and runs until 31 March 2029, with support administered through local authorities.
What Changed With Universal Credit in 2026?
Universal Credit standard allowances increased and the two-child limit ended on 6 April 2026, allowing the child element to be included for every qualifying child.
How Can I Check If a DWP Payment Announcement Is Genuine?
Check whether the announcement appears on GOV.UK or another recognised official source. Be cautious about social-media posts and messages requesting personal or banking information.
