HMRC in urgent text message alert today for £299 cost of living payment update

HM Revenue and Customs is this afternoon starting to contact people who are going to receive the £299 cost of living payment directly with important text messages. The money is aimed at helping some of the poorest people in the country and has already started landing in the bank accounts of people on eligible benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions.

The DWP has been paying the money from February 6 to those eligible to receive Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Pension Credit.

However people who would be getting it from the HMRC-eligible tax credits-only customers will get the money starting in seven days - on February 16 - and ending on February 22 - the same end date as the DWP claimants. If claimants are eligible and receive tax credits, and no other qualifying benefits, they will receive their payment from HMRC, to help with everyday costs.

If you’re getting both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive a Cost of Living Payment for Child Tax Credit only, which will be paid by HMRC. You are eligible for the Cost of Living Payment of £299 if you received a payment of tax credits for any day in the period 13 November 2023 to 12 December 2023, or if you later receive a payment for any day in that period.

Customers do not need to do anything to receive a payment. If they are eligible, payment will be made automatically into the bank account where they receive their tax credits. They do not need to contact the HMRC or apply for the payment.

Receiving the SMS, or a previous Cost of Living Payment, doesn’t guarantee a person will be eligible for this payment. They must meet the separate eligibility criteria for each payment, as published on GOV.UK.

The HMRC payment will appear on bank statements as ‘HMRC COLS’, referencing Cost of Living Support. If customers have not received the Cost of Living Payment from HMRC, but believe they are eligible, they should wait until after 23 February to contact us. This is to allow time for their bank, building society or credit union to process the payment.

The HMRC added: “If tax credits customers haven’t received the text message, they should check their mobile number is up to date so they can receive such future communications from HMRC. They can do this online by searching for ‘HMRC services’ on GOV.UK.”

And the HMRC warned people that scammers will target them during this period of payments. It said: “The HMRC text message sent on 9 February is for information only. We do not ask our customers to reply to it, and it doesn’t include any links. We do not ask for any personal or financial details in the message.”