As winter continues to drag on across the United Kingdom, UK residents are unable to afford basic necessities through inflation and the continuous cost of living crisis bolstering energy bills and food prices.
And with prices set to rise once more from April, the Department for Work and Pensions is handing out a number of cost of living payments over the coming weeks - to assist those who need the most help financially.
Detailed below are some of the schemes available from the DWP this month, and it's worth a check to see if you're eligible for free monetary assistance.
Read more: Universal Credit claimants may be able to boost DWP payments by up to £627 a month
Cold Weather Payment scheme
CoventryLive reports that the cold weather payment scheme started in November and will run until March 31. If you are eligible, you will receive £25 for each seven-day period when temperatures drop below freezing in your area for a consecutive amount of days.
You can receive a Cold Weather Payment if you claim one of the following benefits:
- Income Support - (pensioner or disability premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
You can check the Government's postcode checker tool to see if you are eligible.
Energy discount payment:
The Energy Bills Supports Scheme gives millions of households across the country a £67 discount on their energy bills monthly. You can get up to £400 discount to help with your energy bills over winter and the money does not have to be paid back.
The discount is automatic and all households with a domestic electricity connection in England are eligible.
You will still get the discount if:
- your supplier goes bust
- you switch electricity supplier or move homes
- you change your payment method or tariff
- you're in arrears on your electricity bill payments
The scheme started in October 2022 and you will receive £67 in February and in March, but this scheme has not been extended so from April, you will have to pay the full payment of your energy bill.
Warm Home Discount Scheme:
Under the Warm Home Discount Scheme, you could get a one-off £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2022/2023 between October 2022 and March 2023. You could also maybe get the discount off your gas bill instead if your supplier provides both your gas and electric, and you're eligible.
The discount doesn't affect your Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payment, so contact your supplier to find out more information. If you live in England and Wales, you can qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme if you:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- are on a low income and have high energy costs
If you use a pay-as-you-go or pre-pay electricity meter, your supplier can tell you how you'll get the discount if you're eligible, i.e. an voucher you use to top up the meter.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, to qualify for the discount if on August 21 2011, all of the following applied if:
- your energy supplier is part of the scheme
- your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill
- you or your partner are getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well)
In England and Wales, this is known as being in the 'core group 1' whereas in Scotland, it is the 'core group'.
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Read next:
- DWP clarifies what happens to your PIP payments if you go into hospital
- How to appeal PIP decision if your claim is rejected by DWP and you disagree
- Carer's Allowance changes you must report to DWP or risk payments being stopped
All the Child Benefit changes you must report to HMRC or risk missing out on payments
16 DWP and HMRC benefits that could give you extra money - check which ones you can claim
