£300 cost of living payments handed to people on four DWP benefits - see if you qualify

Households that receive four different in Doncaster can claim up to £300 from their local council to help with the . The payments form part of the Government's Household Support Fund, which has been extended for another year to support families while costs remain high.

The Government has added a further £742million to the pot, which is allocated to local authorities across England to distribute to constituents most in need. The pot is available from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Councils in England decide how best to allocate their portion of the fund, with the amount received based on the size of the population within their catchment area and needs.

The City of Doncaster Council is using its allocation to support residents by offering money towards food, household energy bills and wider essentials.

The one-off payment, worth between £100 and £300 depending on the claimant's circumstances, will be made to those who receive any of the four Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits:

• Housing Benefit,
• Local Council Tax Reduction,
• , which includes the housing element, or
• Means-tested free school meals.

Eligible households will receive a one-time payment to help with food costs. The amount will vary based on the number of dependent children in the household: £100 will be provided to households with one dependent child, £200 to those with two dependent children, and £300 to households with three or more dependent children. A dependent child is defined as one for whom the household receives Child Benefit.

In addition, a single payment of £100 will be made to eligible households to assist with energy bills. This payment is available to households both with and without children, provided they meet the specified eligibility criteria.

Doncaster Council has confirmed that households who received support under the previous Household Support Fund and have been verified as still meeting the eligibility criteria will receive payments automatically. These will be paid directly into the bank account previously used, with no need to reapply.

However, those who previously received support but whose eligibility could not be verified this time round will not receive an automatic payment. They will need to reapply if they believe they are still eligible.

Households that have not received a payment under the previous scheme must also submit an application if they meet the current criteria.

If you are eligible for an automatic payment, or if you apply successfully between now and July, payments will be made according to the following schedule:

• For food support, eligible households with children will receive their payment on or around July 15, 2025
• For energy support, eligible households will receive their payment on or around December 15, 2025.

Further updates regarding payments for applications submitted after July 15, 2025, will be provided on when the information becomes available.

Constituents can make a claim using the .

Councils across the country are offering their own varying support, making it key for Britons to check their local authority's website or call their office to see what's available to them.

People can use this to find out which council they fall under.