If we qualify for the next Cost-of-Living Payment, we now know when the £299 will drop into our account

If we’re in line for a £299 Cost-of-Living Payment, we now know that these will be paid next month.

The money is the last of three Cost-of-Living Payments, which started last year and add up to £900 in total.

If we’re eligible, we’ll get it in our account between 6 February and 22 February.

(But if we’re claiming Tax Credits only, we should receive the money between 16 February and 22 February.)

To qualify, we need to be claiming Universal Credit, income-based JSA or ESA, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Pension Credit.

For this third payment, we should have been claiming one of these benefits between November and December last year to qualify.

If we qualify for the Cost-of-Living Payment we don’t have to do anything. We’ll get the money automatically.

Any texts or emails asking us to apply for it are likely to be a scam. We shouldn’t open them or click on any links.

Lots of us will also be in line for higher payments from April.

Benefits will go up by 6.7 per cent. And the state pension will rise by 8.5 per cent at the same time.

If we don’t receive a Cost-of-Living Payment and think we are entitled to the money, we can report this from 23 February. We can report a missing payment on this page of gov.uk.

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