Low-income Support Payment

There is help available for residents in the borough struggling with household bills, food, clothing or travel costs.

The Council is supporting low-income households with a £100 payment to help with ongoing cost of living. Only one single payment of £100 will be made to each household (each address). 

Eligibility

You are eligible for a £100 payment if:

1. You are a resident in Kensington and Chelsea or placed in a household outside the borough by the Council’s housing department; and 
2. You are receiving at least one of the following benefits:
   • Housing Benefit
   • Council Tax Reduction
   • Universal Credit Housing Allowance 

How to apply

If you are the tenant or owner of the property and are receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, you do not need to apply, you will automatically receive this payment. Please look out for a letter that you may receive in the post from us if we don’t have your bank details. Please complete the form and send it back to us as soon as possible. You will need to send in supporting evidence of your bank details in the form of a copy or a screenshot photo of a bank statement that matches your name and is dated within the last 6 months.

If you are a tenant or owner of a property and are receiving Universal Credit Housing Allowance you will need to apply for the Low Income Support Payment.

Payments will be made between 1 May and 31 May 2024.

Apply now

Your questions answered

What supporting evidence is acceptable?

You will need to send us a copy, or a screenshot photo, of a bank statement dated within the last 6 months, that matches your name and shows your sort code and account number. The £100 payment will be paid into the bank account you provide us with.

What is the Council’s Low-income Cost of Living Payment?

The Council is helping households with the ongoing cost of living by giving residents in receipt of certain benefits a payment of £100 to their bank account. This will help towards bills, food or travel costs.

Who is entitled to the Low-income Cost of Living Payment?

Any resident in Kensington and Chelsea or anyone placed in a household outside the borough by the Council’s housing department, who is in receipt of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Universal Credit Housing Allowance.

I am in receipt of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction but do not have a bank account?

If you do not have a bank account, we can arrange to make a payment via the Post Office. When we contact you to request your bank details you should confirm you do not have an account and require a Post Office payment.

When will I receive my Low-income Cost of Living Payment?

Payments will be made between 1 May and 31 May 2024. The Council will not be able to provide details of the exact date when the payment will be made during this period.

How will I know if I have received the payment?

We will email or send a letter confirming when the payment has been made.

I am not currently receiving Council Tax Reduction but I will soon make a claim. What should I do?

If you are not currently receiving Council Tax Reduction but make a claim and become eligible by 15 April 2024, then you will still receive the £100 Low-income Support Payment.

Will I be contacted by the Council?

We will send a letter to eligible residents asking for their bank details in order for us to make the payment. You can send the completed form by post, by email or in person by visiting Kensington Town Hall reception.