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What Is the Pension Credit £299 Payment?
The Pension Credit £299 payment is the third and final installment of the UK government’s £900 Cost of Living support package for low-income households in 2024–25. Paid automatically between 6 May and 22 May 2025, this one-off lump sum aims to help pensioners manage rising costs for energy, food, and essentials. To receive it, you must have held—or successfully back-dated—a Pension Credit award (or other qualifying means-tested benefit) covering the period 13 November 2023 to 12 December 2024.
Who Qualifies for the £299 Payment?
You qualify automatically if, on any day between 13 Nov 2023 and 12 Dec 2024, you received at least one of these means-tested benefits:
- Pension Credit (guarantee or savings credit)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
No separate application for the £299 is needed beyond holding one of these benefits during the qualifying window.
Why Backdate Your Pension Credit Claim?
Many eligible pensioners have not yet claimed Pension Credit and therefore missed the lump-sum boost. Even if you apply now, you can request backdating so your award covers 13 Nov 2023–12 Dec 2024. Only claims covering that window attract the £299 payment. Without backdating, a Pension Credit award will not trigger this installment.
How to Claim or Back-Date Pension Credit
- Check eligibility online
- Use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator for an instant estimate.
- Submit your claim by 5 March 2025
- By phone: Call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 99 1234.
- By post: Download the form PC1 from GOV.UK, complete it, and send it to your local pension center.
- Request back-dating
- On the form or during your call, clearly state, “Please backdate my Pension Credit claim to cover 13 Nov 2023–12 Dec 2024.”
- Await confirmation
- Once approved, your regular Pension Credit installments and the £299 payment will be paid directly into your bank account in May 2025.
Checking and Reporting Missing Payments
- Review your bank statement
- Look for entries labelled “DWP COL” (DWP-administered) or “HMRC COLS” (tax credit top-ups) between 6 and 6–22 May.
- Verify your benefit history
- On GOV.UK, confirm there were no breaks in your qualifying benefit between 13 Nov 2023 and 12 Dec 2024.
- Report a missing payment
- Complete the official “missing Cost of Living Payment” form on GOV.UK.
- Contact DWP or HMRC
- If the online report does not resolve the issue, call the relevant department to update bank details or correct your record.
Common Causes of Delay
- Incorrect or outdated bank details on file
- Benefit payments paused or under review during the qualifying window
- High administrative workloads delaying processing
- Routine fraud-prevention checks
If any apply, update your details immediately and report the missing payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I still get the £299 if I haven’t claimed Pension Credit yet?
Yes—submit and backdate your Pension Credit claim by 5 March 2025 to cover the qualifying window. Once approved, the payment will follow automatically in May.
2. Will the £299 affect my other benefits?
No. The one-off payment is additional and does not reduce your ongoing awards.
3. What if I changed banks recently?
Update your bank details with DWP/HMRC immediately; then report the missing payment via the GOV.UK form.
4. Are non-means-tested benefits included?
No. Only those on means-tested support (Pension Credit, ESA, JSA, Income Support, Tax Credits, Universal Credit) during the qualifying period qualify.
5. Could there be another cost-of-living payment later in 2025?
As of May 2025, no further UK-wide payments have been announced. Monitor GOV.UK for any updates.
By following this guide—checking eligibility, claiming or backdating Pension Credit, verifying your bank entries, and reporting any issues—you can ensure you receive the full Pension Credit £299 payment you’re entitled to in May 2025.
As a finance news writer at sirfal.com, I specialize in breaking down complex economic trends, market updates, and investment strategies into clear, actionable insights. My mission is to empower readers with the knowledge needed to make informed financial decisions. Thank you for engaging with my articles; I hope they add value to your financial journey.