November dates for benefits, pensions and cost of living payments

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Eight million eligible means-tested benefits claimants – including people on universal credit, pension credit and tax credits – will soon receive the next £300 instalment of the cost of living package as part of a programme that began this spring, with the money going directly to bank accounts in three tranches, the Department for Work and Pensions has said. Here are the payment windows that have been announced so far, with more precise dates for the final instalments expected shortly: £301 – First cost of living payment – already issued between 25 April and 17 May £150 – Disability payment – issued between 20 June and 4 July £300 – Second cost of living payment – being issued between 31 October and 19 November for most people £300 – Pensioner payment – during winter 2023/4 £299 – Third cost of living payment – during spring 2024 Benefits going out as usual The usual state support in the shape of benefits and pensions payments will also be going out as normal in November, with no bank holidays scheduled to confuse delivery dates. Anyone expecting to receive any of the following from the DWP can expect their money on the usual date this month: Universal Credit State pension Pension credit Disability living allowance Personal independence payment Attendance allowance Carer’s allowance Employment support allowance Income support Jobseeker’s allowance For more information on how and when state benefits are paid, please visit the government’s website. Meanwhile, the energy crisis that began to drive up electricity and gas prices a year ago has largely been brought under control and the government’s Energy Price Guarantee – introduced by short-lived prime minister Liz Truss in September 2022 to ensure households paid no more than £2,500 for their power, with the government subsidising the remainder owed to providers under Ofgem’s Energy Price Cap – finally fell into irrelevance when the cap dropped below £2,500 in July.