In the year 2025, DWP when the people of the UK are struggling with the burden of ever-increasing inflation, high prices of food items and electricity and gas bills, the government has released a help amount of £299 as the last installment under the £900 assistance scheme. This payment has been made to help those who depend on low income and who have been directly affected by inflation.
This last payment was made between 6 May and 22 May 2025 and its purpose was to give some relief to the economically weaker sections.
What is this assistance scheme? – Help in three installments of £900
The government had run a Cost of Living Assistance Scheme of a total of £900 for 2024–2025, which was given to the people in installments at three different times. Its purpose was that people struggling with financial difficulties should get some relief from time to time.
| Installment | Amount | Payment Dates |
|---|---|---|
| First | £301 | Spring 2024 |
| Second | £300 | Autumn 2024 |
| Final | £299 | 6 May – 22 May 2025 |
Who got this final payment of £299?
This amount was only given to those people who were receiving support under some of the government’s means-tested benefit schemes. People who received one or more of the following benefits between 13 November 2024 and 12 December 2024 will have this amount sent directly and automatically to their account:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
You do not have to apply for this amount, provided you are eligible.
Who were not included in this scheme?
It is also important to know that not all beneficiaries were eligible in this assistance scheme. In particular, people receiving the following benefits were not eligible:
- New Style ESA
- Contribution-based ESA
- New Style JSA
Also, if someone’s benefits above were discontinued or stopped during the eligibility period, they may not have received this payment.
How is the payment sent and what is the identification?
The amount was transferred directly into the bank accounts of all eligible people. Where the payment came from depends on which organization pays you the benefit:
- If it was sent by the DWP, your bank statement will say “DWP COL”.
- If it was sent by HMRC, the statement will say “HMRC COLS”.
- The process was fully automated and people did not need to fill in any forms.
What if you haven’t received this payment?
If you haven’t received this payment yet, don’t worry. You can find out what happened by taking the steps below:
- Check your bank statement – see if a payment appears between 6 May and 22 May with the name “DWP COL” or “HMRC COLS”.
- Double-check your eligibility – check if you received the benefits mentioned above between 13 November and 12 December 2024.
- Report a missing payment – visit the GOV.UK website and fill out the “Missing Cost of Living Payment” form.
- Contact DWP or HMRC – if this still doesn’t resolve, contact the relevant department.
What do people with backdated claims for Pension Credit do?
If you applied for Pension Credit after 12 December 2024 but before 5 March 2025, and your claim is backdated to include the period 13 November to 12 December, you may be eligible to receive this payment.
In this case, the DWP will confirm your eligibility and make the payment automatically.
Common reasons for delayed payments
Some of the common reasons why payments may be delayed or missed are:
- Bank account information is out of date or incorrect
- Benefits were paused or stopped during the eligibility period
- Administrative processing delays
- Fraud prevention checks take time
If any of these reasons apply to your case, contact the DWP or HMRC as soon as possible.
How to avoid fraud?
Whenever the government gives financial support, scammers also become active. To avoid them, keep in mind:
- The DWP or HMRC never ask you for bank or personal information by email, text or call.
- Do not click on any unknown links or messages.
- Only get information from official websites such as GOV.UK.
Conclusion:
This final payment amount of £299 was a necessary and timely support from the government in 2025, especially for those who are suffering from ever-rising inflation. Although this process is automatic, sometimes eligible people do not receive payments or it is delayed. That is why it is important to check your eligibility, check your bank statements and contact the right department if necessary.
FAQs
Q1. What is the DWP £299 Cost of Living Payment?
A: This is a one-off financial support payment from the UK Government for eligible individuals receiving certain benefits or tax credits, aimed at helping with the rising cost of living.
Q2. What should I do if my payment is missing?
A: If you haven’t received your payment by 7th March 2025, contact the relevant authority (DWP or HMRC) to report a missing payment. Ensure your benefit records and bank details are up to date.
Q3. When will the £299 Cost of Living Payment be made?
A: Most payments are being made automatically between 19th February and 29th February 2025, but exact timing can vary depending on your benefit type and payment provider.
Q4. How will I receive the payment?
A: The payment will be sent directly to the same bank account where you normally receive your benefits. It will appear with a reference such as ‘DWP COL’ or ‘HMRC COL’.
Q5. How can I check the status of my payment?
A: You can check your benefit account online via your Universal Credit or HMRC login, or contact the DWP helpline to confirm if the payment has been issued.