Many people across the UK may be missing out on a payment of up to £1,100 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This support is meant to help households during tough financial times, but thousands haven’t applied for it – mostly because they don’t know they’re eligible.
Let’s break it down in simple terms: who can get this money, how you can check if you’re eligible, and what steps to follow to claim it.
What is the £1,100 DWP Payment?
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This payment is part of the government’s cost of living support package. In 2023–24, DWP offered several cost-of-living payments to help people facing rising bills, inflation, and other financial struggles. One of the biggest payments was worth up to £900, paid in three instalments.
When you add other smaller support payments (like the £150 disability payment or £300 winter bonus), some households could receive over £1,100 in total.
But here’s the catch – not everyone got it automatically. And some who were eligible may not have claimed it in time or might not have realized they needed to take action.
Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible for this payment if you were receiving any of the following benefits during the qualifying periods:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
You must have been entitled to one of these benefits during specific time periods in 2023 to get each cost of living payment.
For example, for the £301 payment, you must have been receiving benefits between 26 January and 25 February 2023. The other instalments had their own qualifying windows.
What If You Didn’t Get Paid?
If you think you were eligible but didn’t get the money, don’t worry — the DWP has a process to handle this. You can report a missing cost of living payment directly on the official GOV.UK website.
But time matters here. There are deadlines to report missing payments. If you wait too long, you might lose your chance to receive it.
What About Pensioners?
If you’re a pensioner on a low income, you could qualify for Pension Credit, which might make you eligible even after the main deadline has passed.
Here’s something important: Pension Credit claims can be backdated for up to 3 months. So if you apply now and qualify, you could still get the earlier cost-of-living payments retroactively.
This is one of the easiest ways to access extra support if you didn’t know you qualified before.
Disability Payments
If you receive disability benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Attendance Allowance, you may also qualify for a £150 disability cost-of-living payment.
This is separate from the main £900 payment but can be combined, pushing the total you receive well above £1,100.
How to Claim
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to make sure you’re not missing out:
- Check your benefit records – Were you receiving any of the qualifying benefits during 2023?
- Visit the GOV.UK website – Go to the cost of living payment section and review the eligibility dates.
- Report a missing payment – If you qualify and didn’t receive a payment, fill out the online form.
- Check Pension Credit eligibility – If you’re a pensioner, use the Pension Credit calculator online to see if you qualify.
- Apply before deadlines – Don’t wait too long or you could lose the chance to claim.
Why People Are Missing Out
Many people simply don’t know that they’re eligible. Others think they’re earning too much or that the government will reach out directly — but that’s not always the case.
The DWP doesn’t automatically give payments unless you’re already on the right benefit at the right time. And if you became eligible recently, you still need to apply.
Final Thoughts
With the cost of living still high, every bit of support matters. This £1,100+ payment from DWP could make a real difference, especially for families, pensioners, or those living on a low income.
If you haven’t checked your eligibility yet, now’s the time. A few minutes on the official website could put money back in your pocket — money you might not even know you’re entitled to.