Cold weather payments

Shared from i news Money page

What is the cold weather payment?

The cold weather payment is a DWP scheme that runs from 1 November to 31 March each year.

A payment of £25 is sent to eligible people for every seven-day period in which the temperature is below zero, which is designed to be used for heating bills and similar essentials.

Who is eligible for the cold weather payment?

If you currently receive any of the following, you may be eligible to receive cold weather payments:

• Pension credit
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
• Universal credit
• Support for mortgage interest (SMI)

People receiving income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance can get cold weather payments if they have a disability or get pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, a child tax credit that includes a disability element or a child under five living with them.

People entitled to ESA can will also receive the benefit if they’re part of a work-related activity group or support group, receive a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium (joint claim with a partner), a child tax credit that includes a disability element, or have a child under five living with them.

Universal credit claimants can also receive the benefit so long as they’re not employed or self-employed, and one of the following applies: they have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, and/or they have a child under five living with them.

They will also be eligible if they have a disabled child, whether they’re employed or not.

Is my area cold enough to receive it?

If you are eligible, you can find out if your area is cold enough for a payment by putting your postcode into the DWP’s website here.

How do I receive the money?

If you are eligible for a payment you should receive it automatically.

But if a change in your circumstances means you believe you should now be eligible, for example if you have a baby, or a child under the age of five comes to live with you, then you should contact Jobcentre Plus.

Tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office if you think you should have received a cold weather payment but you have not. If you are on universal credit then contact the helpline on 0800 328 9344 instead.

After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days.

This will be paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.

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More advice on help with energy bills here.