Inflation and rising living costs continue to affect UK households in 2025. In such a situation, the government has released the last installment of £299 under the £900 Cost of Living Assistance Scheme. This payment has been made between 6 May and 22 May 2025, to provide relief to those who are facing difficulties in necessities like food, electricity and rent.
This payment is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and its purpose is to provide help to those who depend on government assistance (benefits).
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Three instalments of the £900 support scheme:
The Government has given this money in three installments to deal with the economic crisis:
| Installment | Amount | Payment Period |
|---|---|---|
| First | £301 | Spring 2024 |
| Second | £300 | Autumn 2024 |
| Third (Final) | £299 | 6 to 22 May 2025 |
Who was eligible for the £299 payment in May 2025?
If you were receiving any of the following benefits between 13 November 2024 and 12 December 2024, you should get this payment:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based JSA
- Income-related ESA
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
If you remained eligible for these benefits at that time, you should have automatically received this payment in your bank account. No application was required.
Who didn’t get this payment?
Some people who were only receiving non-means-tested or contributory benefits didn’t get this support. These include:
- New style ESA
- Contribution-based ESA
- New style JSA
Also, if your benefit amount was interrupted during that period, you may not have received a payment.
How did the payment come?
The payment was transferred straight into a bank account and the details appeared:
- Payment from DWP: “DWP COL”
- Payment from HMRC: “HMRC COLS”
- If you haven’t received this payment yet, you should follow the steps below.
Didn’t get a payment? What to do?
- Check your bank statement – look for “DWP COL” or “HMRC COLS” between 6 and 22 May.
- Confirm eligibility – did you receive eligible benefits between 13 November and 12 December 2024?
- Report a missing payment – visit the GOV.UK website and fill out the form.
- Contact DWP or HMRC – contact them directly if the problem persists.
Backdated Pension Credit claim
If you applied for Pension Credit after 12 December 2024 and before 5 March 2025 and your claim is backdated to cover that period, you could get £299.
Note:
- The application must have been made before 5 March 2025
- The claim must cover the period 13 November to 12 December 2024
If this is the case, the DWP will automatically make the payment. Otherwise you will need to report the missing payment.
What could be causing the delay?
Sometimes payments may be delayed due to these common reasons:
- Bank details are outdated or incorrect
- Benefits stopped or paused
- Administrative delays
- Investigations to prevent fraud
- If any of these reasons occur, it is important to contact DWP or HMRC.
Avoid scams
Fraudsters often become active in government payment schemes. To stay safe, keep these things in mind:
- DWP or HMRC never ask for your personal information by phone, email or message
- Do not click on unknown messages or links
- Always get information from the government website GOV.UK
Conclusion
The £299 payment of May 2025 has brought great relief to the financially weak people. This scheme provides payment without any application, but if for some reason your payment has been missed, you can get it by taking the necessary steps. With eligibility, time and correct information, you can take full advantage of government help.
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FAQs
1. What is the DWP £299 Cost of Living Payment?
It is a one-off government support payment issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help eligible low-income households in the UK manage the cost of living.
2. Who qualifies for the £299 DWP payment?
You may qualify if you were receiving benefits like Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Working Tax Credit, or Child Tax Credit during the specified eligibility period.
3. When is the £299 payment supposed to be made?
The payment is typically issued in early to mid-2025, but exact dates can vary depending on the benefit type and your payment schedule.
4. How do I check if my £299 payment was made?
You can check your bank account statement, Universal Credit journal, or contact DWP or HMRC depending on the benefit you receive.
5. What should I do if I haven’t received my £299 payment?
If you’re eligible but didn’t receive the payment, you can report a missing payment on the official GOV.UK website or by contacting DWP or HMRC directly.
