Find out what money you are entitled to
Find out what support is available if you are worried about or struggling with the rising costs of living.
Council Tax Reductions
You could be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction if you’re on a low income or claim benefits.
Check if you’re eligible to reduce your Council Tax
Cost of living support you get automatically if you get welfare benefits or Tax Credits
If you get one of the welfare benefits or Tax Credits listed below you should get payments from the government to help with the cost of living in 2023 to 2024. You should automatically receive this if you get one of these benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Employment & Support Allowance (income based)
- Jobseekers Allowance (income-based)
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Income Support
How much the payments are worth
- are worth £900 in total
- will be paid as instalments of £301, £300 and £299
- will be paid between spring 2023 and spring 2024
When will you receive the payments
- the first payment of £301 was made in April and May 2023
- the second payment of £300 was made in October and November 2023
- the third and final payment will be made in spring 2024 with exact dates still to be confirmed
The payments should go to the same bank account used to pay your benefits. If you don’t get this money as expected, you can report a missing cost of living payment on the GOV.UK website.
Money you can apply for if you get welfare benefits
Help for pension-aged residents
To get the most support, pension-aged residents (aged 66 and above) must apply for Pension Credit. We work with community partners to help vulnerable pension-aged residents get all the benefit support they are entitled to.
Check what benefits you are entitled to
Our Local Support Team help disabled, vulnerable or older residents who are facing severe financial hardship. We can check that you and your household are getting all the welfare benefits you're entitled to and help you make a claim. They also run the:
- Southwark Emergency Support Scheme for residents who need help dealing with a crisis, emergency or disaster
- Hardship Fund for residents in debt with household bills
Housing Benefit and other support
Find out about other benefits and support we can help you with.
Help for non-UK nationals who are not entitled to benefits
Help to increase your income, manage your debts and find discounts
Get help to increase your income, manage your debts and find discounts.
Page last updated: 11 December 2023
