Are you eligible for a £25 cold weather payment?
You will have no doubt noticed the chill in the air over the last few days, with Winter starting to show its colder side after a pretty warm Autumn for most, and it looks like we have plenty more cold to come, with sub-zero temperatures expected over the coming days, and even snow becoming a possibility over the weekend and into next week, pretty much anywhere, and as this cold weather may last a while, with some, (trusted), forecasters believing it could be really cold until the 16th of December, possibly longer, it may mean the Governments Cold Weather Payment scheme may come into play for some.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office have issued a level three cold weather alert between 18:00 GMT on Wednesday, the 7th of December, and 09:00 on Monday, 12 December, in most parts of England. The level also alerts social and healthcare services to take action to protect high-risk groups.
What is the Cold Weather Payment Scheme?
This financial help may help with the cost of heating your home during a cold period, but with the rise in energy costs, it's a drop in the ocean, but better than nothing! The cold weather scheme is set up in a way that if you are eligible, you’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.
You’ll get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between the 1st of November and the 31st of March.
You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:
Pension Credit
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Universal Credit
Support for Mortgage Interest
You do not need to apply. You’ll be paid automatically if you’re eligible for a Cold Weather Payment.
Tell Jobcentre Plus if you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance and:
you’ve had a baby
a child under 5 has come to live with you
You will not automatically get Cold Weather Payments if you do not.
You cannot get Cold Weather Payments if you live in Scotland. You might get an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment instead. You’ll get this payment regardless of weather conditions in your area.
This extra payment is in addition to the current cost of living support package set out by the UK government.