In response to the cost of living crisis, the UK Government has put in place a cost of living support package that provides additional payments for recipients of means-tested benefits, tax credits and disability benefits in Northern Ireland.
There is no need to make a claim for a cost of living support payment, as payments will be made automatically via existing benefit award payments. Payments do not affect entitlement to benefits and do not count towards the benefit cap.
Recipients of means-tested benefits, including:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
will receive £650 paid in two instalments.
The first payment of £326 was made in July 2022 to anyone who was awarded, or later found to be entitled to, one of the means-tested benefits on any day during the period 26 April to 25 May 2022.
The second payment of £324 will be paid in November. To get the second Cost of Living Payment of £324, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period 26 August 2022 to 25 September 2022.
Couples, who make a joint claim for a means- tested benefit, will receive one £650 payment between them, which will be paid in two instalments.
If you think you might be entitled to benefits, you should make a claim as soon as possible so that you can qualify for the second cost of living support payment in the autumn.
Recipients of Child Tax and/or Working Tax Credit will be paid £650 in two instalments.
- The first instalment was in September 2022. To be eligible, you must have received a payment, or an annual award of at least £26, of tax credits on any day between 26 April to 25 May 2022.
- The second Cost of Living Payment for people on tax credits will be paid at the end of November 2022. To be eligible, you must have received a payment, or an annual award of at least £26 of tax credits on any day between 26 August to 25 September 2022.
If you are paid Child Tax and Working Tax Credits, you will only receive one £650 payment, paid in two instalments.
Couples, who make a joint claim for tax credits, will receive one £650 payment between them, which will be paid in two instalments.
A lump sum payment of £150 will be paid to anyone in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit on 25 May 2022.
Qualifying benefits are:
- Attendance Allowance (AA)
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment and War Pension Mobility Supplement.
The payment should have been made in September.
If you are paid a means-tested benefit or tax credit and a qualifying disability benefit, you will be paid £150 in addition to the £650 payment.
From November 2022, anyone entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023 will receive an additional £300 towards the cost of energy.
To be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment, you must have been over state pension age (66 or above) between 19 and 25 September 2022.
You will usually get Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you are eligible. However, if you think you are eligible, but do not get paid automatically, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to make a claim:
Unfortunately, there is no specific cost of living support for people who only receive:
- Carers Allowance
- New-Style or contribution-based JSA
- New-Style or contribution-based ESA
- Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
Read more about the cost of living support package at
