The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will give £25 to certain households when the temperatures drop, as its Cold Weather Payment scheme starts today.
The energy support scheme provides cash payments of £25 to people living in England and Wales when it is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days. If the cold snap lasts longer, you do get more payments. This means you could be eligible to get £50 or even £75.
The payments are made automatically if you're eligible and appear in your bank statement within 14 days of the cold snap. The payment will be labelled "DWP CWP" on your bank statement, and they will be made into the same bank or building society account where you receive your benefits. The scheme opened today and will run until the end of March next year.
To be eligible for the cash, households will need to claim one of several DWP benefits, which include Pension Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or Universal Credit. However, it is not as simple as claiming.
With Pension Credit, you will be eligible for the payment as long as you don't live in a care home. For Income Support and income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA), you'll only qualify if you have a disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, get Child Tax Credits that include a disability or severe disability element, or you have a child under five living with you.
For income-related employment and support allowance, you'll be eligible if you have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, get Child Tax Credits that include a disability or severe disability element, or you have a child under five living with you. For those claiming Universal Credit, you can get the payment if you have a health condition or disability and have a "limited capability for work", or you have a child under five living with you.
Finally, with support for mortgage interest (SMI), you'll be eligible if you get it but also have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, or a child who is disabled. You can also be eligible if you get Child Tax Credits that include a disability or severe disability element, or if you have a child under five living with you.
Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds said it was vital that the most vulnerable in society receive support as we head into the winter months. DWP support includes the Winter Fuel Payment and the Cold Weather Payment. She said: “With the dire state of the public finances, we have had to make some tough choices, including means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment so that it goes to those most in need.
“And while these choices were not made lightly, this Government is doing everything it can to ensure maximum take-up of Pension Credit while also continuing to support pensioners through our commitment to the Triple Lock which will mean an increase in the full state pension of up to £1,700 over the next five years.”