Cold Weather Payment Scheme will open within weeks and eligible people could get £25 during very cold weather
The Cold Weather Payment Scheme runs each year from November 1 to March 31
PA
People who are on certain low income benefits or get Support for Mortgage Interest could get £25 during periods of very cold weather in their local area this winter.
The Cold Weather Payment Scheme offers £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31, meaning it’s just a matter of weeks until the scheme opens for this winter.
Eligible people will get a payment if, during this time, the average temperature in their local area is recorded as or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
After each period of very cold weather, those who live in a qualifying area should get the payment within 14 working days.
The Cold Weather Payment can help towards extra energy costs that often come with periods of very cold weather
PA
The money will be paid into the same bank or building society account as one’s benefit payments.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says a person may get Cold Weather Payments if they receive one of the following benefits, although conditions apply:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
People on Pension Credit will usually get the Cold Weather Payment, while others will need to meet specific criteria, depending on the benefit they get.
People who live in Scotland cannot get Cold Weather Payments, but they might get an annual Winter Heating Payment worth £50 a year instead.
The Cold Weather Payment doesn’t need to be claimed and is paid to qualifying people automatically after there has been a trigger in the area.
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People who get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance and have had a baby or a child under the age of five come to live with them, will need to contact Jobcentre Plus.
Otherwise, they won’t automatically get Cold Weather Payments.
In the event a person thinks they should have got a Cold Weather Payment but have not received it, they should contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
If a person gets Universal Credit, they can sign into their account online and add a note to their journal, or ring the Universal Credit helpline.