Winter is almost fully upon us – and it won’t be long before the temperature drops below zero.
Brrrrr! We’re already feeling shivery just thinking about it.
It sounds like a great excuse to hibernate indoors to stay warm and toasty – but of course, it’s not always as easy as cranking up the central heating without a second thought.
Millions of people have seen their energy bills soar in the last few months – due to the skyrocketing prices of gas. And if you’re on benefits, heating can at times feel like a luxury – rather than a necessity.
But for some benefit recipients, the government’s Cold Weather Payment is a small additional sum designed to help tackle the bitterest winter’s higher heating costs.
So, who is eligible? And when do the payments start? Do you need to apply or is it like the Winter Fuel Allowance, which arrives automatically?
Here’s what you need to know.
When does the Cold Weather Payment start for 2021?
On Monday, November 1, the government’s Cold Weather Payment scheme begins.
Essentially, these payments are given to some benefits claimants to help with winter heating costs.
For the period of November 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, recipients will be given £25 for every seven consecutive days of cold weather.
So, what exactly counts as cold in this case? According to gov.uk, it’s when the temperature drops below freezing.
Their website states: ‘You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below.’
For those wondering: the payment doesn’t arrive instantly.
Seven days of sub-zero weather (in your local area) must pass. Once it has, the payment is 14 days away.
For example: if it’s freezing from November 1 to November 7, you’d be due your £25 by Sunday, November 21.
As benefits aren’t paid on weekends, you’d therefore likely get it the nearest working day before the due date – on Friday, November 19.
On the plus side: you don’t need to go through a lengthy application process to receive it.
If you’re entitled to the Cold Weather Payment, along with your existing benefits, you should automatically receive it to your usual bank account.
Who’s eligible to receive the 2021 Cold Weather Payment?
Unlike, the Winter Fuel Allowance, eligibility isn’t based on when you were born.
If you get Pension Credit, then it’s highly likely you’ll also get the Cold Weather Payment.
If you receive another type of benefit, you’ll usually qualify if you have either a disability or a child under the age of five.
You will be eligible if:
- You’re on Income Support or Jobseekers, if you have a disability, pensioner premium, a child under five or receive a Child Tax Credit connected to a disability.
- You’re on Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are in a work-activity group.
- You’re on ESA and have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pension premium, a disabled child (or Child Tax Credit connected to a disability), or a child under five.
- You get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) and have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pension premium, a disabled child (or Child Tax Credit connected to a disability), or a child under five.
- You are unemployed, on Universal Credit and are either limited in your ability to work or have a disability.
- You are unemployed, on Universal Credit and have a child aged under five.
And yes, you can be entitled to both the Winter Fuel Allowance and Cold Weather Payment.
To see the full list of who gets the Cold Weather Payment, visit gov.uk – or use the website’s benefits calculator to find out what you’re entitled to.
Make sure you also look into the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
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