People receiving a variety of benefits could receive an extra payment this winter if the weather is cold. The Government has published a guide to the Cold Weather Payment today (November 22).
The payment is designed to support people during spells of very cold weather. People in receipt of certain benefits will qualify and payments will be made automatically. They normally apply between November 1 and March 31.
They are made when the average temperature in the area in which you live drops below zero degrees for seven days in a row. The payment do not apply in Scotland, where the Winter Heating Payment is in place instead.
To get a Cold Weather Payment, you need to be in receipt of Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI), Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. If you get Pension Credit, you wil lusually get Cold Weather Payments, the Government says.
Universal Credit
To get a Cold Weather Payment on Universal Credit, you usually cannot be employed or self-employed. One of the following must also apply: You have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, or you have a child under five living with you.
If you have a disabled child living with you, it does not matter if you are employed or not. You could still qualify for a Cold Weather Payment.
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
You will usually get a Cold Weather Payment while on SMI if you have one of the following: a severe or enhanced disability premium; a pension 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
Income Support and Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
You will usually get Cold Weather Payments if you: get a disability or pensioner premium; have a child who is disabled; get Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or have a child under five living with you.
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
You must be in a work-related activity or support group to get a Cold Weather payment. If you are not in either group, you might still get a Cold Weather Payment if: you get a severe or enhanced disability premium; you get a pension premium; you have a child who is disabled; you get Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or you have a child under five living with you.
What you will get
You will get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather. These payments are usually made for the dates between November 1 and March 31.
You do not need to apply for Cold Weather Payments. For people who qualify, they are automatically paid.
Cold Weather Payments are paid into the same bank or building society as your usual benefit payment. After each seven-day period of very cold weather, you should get the payment within 14 working days.
Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits. To check if a Cold Weather Payment is due in your area, go to coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk
