No, there are no new DWP Cost of Living Payments scheduled for tomorrow or at any point during the remainder of 2026. The government’s Cost of Living support scheme officially ended in February 2024, despite ongoing rumours circulating on social media suggesting that another payment is due.
Unless you are owed a backdated or delayed payment because of a successful benefit appeal, a late claim decision, or corrected eligibility from a previous qualifying period, you should not expect a Cost of Living deposit to arrive in your bank account. That said, other forms of government support, including local council assistance through the Household Support Fund, are still available.
This guide explains exactly who may still receive money, why some payments can arrive late, and how to check whether the DWP or HMRC still owes you financial support.
How to Check If You Are Owed a Payment in 2026?
Although the official Cost of Living Payment scheme has ended, there are still legitimate ways to check whether you are owed money from earlier eligibility periods or qualify for ongoing support in 2026. There is no single active payment portal anymore, but the options below cover every realistic route for checking outstanding or alternative financial help.
1. Check For Missing Or Backdated DWP Payments
If you believe you were eligible for a Cost of Living Payment between 2022 and early 2024 but never received it, you can still report this to the government. These cases usually involve delayed claims, appeals, or incorrect bank details.
You should use the official GOV.UK “Report a Missing Cost of Living Payment” service, which allows the Department for Work and Pensions to review your entitlement.
You will need:
- Your National Insurance number
- The benefit you were receiving at the time
- The approximate dates you believe you were eligible
This process applies only to missed or delayed payments, not new ones. If your claim is successful, any payment issued in 2026 would be a backdated amount, not a new Cost of Living Payment.
You can access the official reporting page here:
👉 Report a missing Cost of Living Payment on GOV.UK
2. Check Household Support Fund Help Through Your Local Council
For many households, the Household Support Fund (HSF) is now the closest alternative to Cost of Living Payments. This scheme has been extended and continues to provide targeted help with food, energy bills, and essential household costs.
Because the fund is managed by local councils, eligibility rules and application dates vary by area. There is no national payment date, and support is usually limited-time or needs-based.
The first step is to find your local authority using the official government tool:
👉 Find your local council on GOV.UK
Once on your council’s website, search for:
- “Household Support Fund”
- “Cost of Living Support”
- “Financial hardship help”
Most councils provide an online eligibility checker or application form. Some also offer supermarket vouchers, fuel credits, or emergency grants rather than cash payments.
3. Use A Benefits Calculator To Check If You’re Missing Ongoing Support
If you are not receiving any payment in 2026, it may be because your current benefits are not fully maximised. This is especially common among pensioners, carers, and low-income households.
Independent benefits calculators can quickly tell you whether you are missing out on:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit top-ups
- Housing or council tax support
- Disability-related premiums
Two trusted tools widely used across the UK are:
👉 Turn2us Benefits Calculator
👉 entitledto Benefits Calculator
Both tools are free, confidential, and take around 10 minutes to complete. If you qualify for additional benefits, this can lead to ongoing monthly support, rather than one-off payments.
4. Check Bank Statements And Benefit Accounts Carefully
If you are unsure whether you already received a Cost of Living Payment, check your bank statements from the original payment windows. Payments were usually labelled as:
- “DWP COLP”
- “HMRC COL”
You can also review your payment history through your Universal Credit journal, Pension Credit account, or HMRC Tax Credit account, where issued payments are recorded.
If you believe something is missing after checking, contact the relevant department directly and request a review.
What Was the Cost of Living Payment and Why Did It Exist?
The Cost of Living Payment was a temporary support measure introduced by the UK Government to help vulnerable and low-income households cope with the economic pressures that followed the pandemic and global energy crisis. As prices soared in 2022, millions of people saw a sharp rise in the cost of everyday essentials such as food, fuel, rent, and energy bills.
To combat this, the government provided a series of one-off tax-free payments. These payments were sent directly to households in receipt of certain means-tested benefits, disability benefits, and pension credits.
Unlike other forms of assistance, no applications were required. Eligibility was determined automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), depending on the benefit type.
The scheme ran from mid-2022 to early 2024, with several instalments released over that period.
Will I Get a Cost of Living Payment Tomorrow?
In most cases, the answer is no. There are currently no new Cost of Living Payments scheduled for 2026. All previously planned payments under the scheme have been completed.
If you are hoping for a payment to appear in your account tomorrow, that would only happen if there was a delayed or backdated payment owed to you from a previous year such as from 2022, 2023, or early 2024.
The government has not announced any new payments or support schemes that are currently active or planned for the remainder of 2026. Any further assistance would require a new budget announcement or emergency financial package, which, as of now, has not taken place.
Are There Any Situations Where a Payment Might Still Arrive in 2026?
Yes, although such situations are limited and uncommon. If a Cost of Living Payment appears in your account in 2026, it would almost certainly be related to an overdue or corrected payment from an earlier eligibility window. These are not new payments, but rather delayed ones that are still being processed due to specific individual circumstances.
Some examples include:
- You were awarded a benefit retroactively, and your eligibility was backdated to one of the qualifying periods in 2022–2024.
- You changed your bank account during the time of payment, and the funds failed to reach you, requiring reprocessing.
- Your benefit claim was under appeal or review, and after being resolved, the entitlement was corrected to include a qualifying period.
If any of these apply to you, you may still receive the payment even though the general payment windows have ended. However, if none of these exceptions fit your situation, then you should not expect a Cost of Living Payment to be made at any point in 2026.
What Were the Benefits That Qualified for the Payments?
The eligibility criteria for the Cost of Living Payments were clearly defined by the government. Only people receiving certain means-tested or tax credit benefits during specific periods were eligible.
The qualifying benefits included:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
People who were only receiving New Style JSA, New Style ESA, or contributory-based benefits did not qualify. In joint benefit claims, only one payment per household was issued, even if both people were eligible individually.
This system was designed to automatically identify qualifying recipients based on DWP or HMRC records. No manual application or opt-in was required, meaning if you were eligible, the payment would have been sent directly to your account during the specified time.
When Were the Cost of Living Payments Made?
The government issued five major Cost of Living Payments between 2022 and 2024. These were made at different times, depending on the benefit and eligibility period.
The table below shows the payment amounts, the eligibility windows, and when the payments were issued.
| Payment Amount | Eligibility Period | Payment Window |
| £326 | April – May 2022 | 14 – 31 July 2022 |
| £324 | August – September 2022 | 8 – 23 November 2022 |
| £301 | January – February 2023 | 25 April – 17 May 2023 |
| £300 | August – September 2023 | 31 October – 19 November 2023 |
| £299 | November – December 2023 | 6 – 22 February 2024 |
Each payment was delivered automatically. The DWP was responsible for processing payments linked to benefits such as Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, and Income Support, while HMRC processed payments for those receiving Tax Credits.
Upcoming Support Dates 2026
As of now, there are no confirmed Cost of Living Payments scheduled for 2026. The previous scheme has fully ended, and the government has not announced a replacement programme that mirrors the one-off Cost of Living Payments issued between 2022 and early 2024.
However, financial support in 2026 is expected to continue through existing benefit upratings and targeted schemes, rather than lump-sum payments. Key dates and periods to be aware of include:
-
April 2026 benefit uprating
Most working-age benefits, Pension Credit, and the State Pension are typically increased each April in line with inflation or government policy decisions announced in the Spring Budget. -
Household Support Fund extensions
While the fund does not operate on fixed national payment dates, local councils may receive renewed allocations during the 2026 financial year. Support is usually released in phases, depending on council budgets and demand. -
Winter support schemes (late 2026)
Cold Weather Payments (where applicable), Winter Fuel Payments, and local winter hardship schemes usually operate between November and March, subject to eligibility and weather conditions. -
Budget and Autumn Statement announcements
Any new financial support for 2026 would most likely be announced during the Spring Budget or Autumn Statement, rather than appearing without notice.
If new Cost of Living-style payments are introduced for 2026, they will be confirmed publicly through official government channels before any money is issued. Until then, households should plan based on existing benefits, annual upratings, and council-level support rather than expecting new one-off payments.
How Can You Check If You Already Received the Payment?
If you are unsure whether you received one or more of the Cost of Living Payments, the best way to check is through your bank account and benefit portal.
Start by reviewing your bank statements from the months when payments were issued. The deposit would usually appear with a reference like “DWP COLP” or “HMRC COL” depending on which department processed it.
You can also log into your Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or HMRC Tax Credit account to view your payment history. If the payment was issued, it would be clearly listed in your past transactions or messages.
If you’re still unsure, or if you believe you were eligible but didn’t receive a payment, you can contact the relevant department (either DWP or HMRC) for a review of your case.
What Can You Do If You Think You Missed a Payment?
If you expected to receive a payment and it never arrived, it’s worth considering whether any of the following apply:
- You were not receiving a qualifying benefit during the eligibility period.
- Your benefit claim started after the qualifying period had ended.
- Your bank details were incorrect at the time of processing.
- Your claim was still under review or awaiting a decision when payments were issued.
If your case involves one of these issues, and especially if your benefit was later backdated, there is a possibility that a payment is still owed. In this case, you should contact DWP or HMRC directly with your National Insurance number and relevant details to request a case review.
If none of these apply, it is likely that you were not eligible and will not receive a payment retroactively.
What Support Is Available If There Are No Further Cost of Living Payments?
While there are no new Cost of Living Payments planned, there are other forms of financial assistance available to UK residents struggling with rising costs. These options vary by region and may include both government-funded and charitable support schemes.
Some forms of help to explore include:
- The Household Support Fund, distributed by local councils to help with food, energy bills, and essential goods.
- Discretionary Housing Payments, which offer additional support to people receiving Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who are struggling with rent.
- Fuel vouchers and winter energy support, sometimes available through local authorities or energy companies.
- Charity grants, including emergency support from organisations such as Turn2Us or your local Citizens Advice.
These resources are not automatic and usually require an application or referral. Check your local council’s website or speak with a welfare adviser for up-to-date information on support in your area.
Is There Any Possibility of Future Cost of Living Support?
At the time of writing, no official plans for additional Cost of Living Payments in 2026 have been confirmed. While it’s possible that future support could be announced during government budget updates or in response to ongoing economic pressures, nothing has been formally introduced.
Staying informed through official channels is the best way to ensure you receive the latest updates. Avoid misinformation circulating on social media and refer instead to trusted sources like GOV.UK, DWP press releases, or BBC News for announcements.
Conclusion: Will a Cost of Living Payment Arrive Tomorrow?
For most UK benefit recipients, no Cost of Living Payment will be arriving tomorrow or at any point in 2026, unless a previous payment was delayed or missed due to a processing error or case review.
The scheme was completed in early 2024, and while it helped millions during difficult times, it is no longer active. The only exceptions involve unique cases where payments were backdated, returned, or corrected. If this could apply to you, contact your benefit provider for clarification.
If you’re facing financial hardship, other resources may be available, and it’s worth exploring what your local council or support organisations can offer. Knowing what support is available and what is no longer in place—can help you plan more effectively and avoid relying on misinformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I receive a Cost of Living Payment in 2026?
No new Cost of Living Payments are scheduled for 2026. All previous payments under the scheme were issued automatically between 2022 and 2024.
Can I still get a payment if my benefit was backdated?
Yes, if your benefit was approved recently but backdated to a qualifying period, you might still receive a delayed payment in 2026.
What if I changed my bank account during the payment period?
If the payment failed due to incorrect banking information, DWP or HMRC may reprocess the payment once your new details are verified.
How do I confirm whether I received a payment?
Check your benefit account and bank statements. Look for entries labelled “DWP COLP” or “HMRC COL.”
Will the government introduce new payments later this year?
There are currently no plans for additional payments, though future support could be introduced in upcoming budgets.
Are there other financial support options available?
Yes, including the Household Support Fund, discretionary housing payments, and grants from local charities and councils.
What should I do if I never received a payment but was eligible?
Contact the relevant department (DWP or HMRC) with your details and request a review of your case.
