It’s worth double checking the DWP qualifying rules as they are quite specific
DWP benefit claimants may want to check the qualifying rules for a £25 payment. As we move into the coldest months of the year, thousands of claimants will be eligible for Cold Weather Payments. These £25 cash payments go out when the temperature in your area is, or is forecast to be, at zero degrees celsius or lower over seven consecutive days.
People on many different benefits qualify for the cash, but there are precise conditions you have to meet to be eligible, depending on what benefit you get. Daniel Waterhouse, an adviser at debt support group Money Wellness, said: “Cold Weather Payments can be a real help when it’s freezing, but the rules are tricky. Lots of people who are struggling to keep warm don’t get them.”
“To qualify, you need to be on certain benefits, like Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA or ESA, support for mortgage interest, or Universal Credit. But just being on these benefits doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get a payment.”
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The payments do go out automatically if you are eligible, but it’s worth looking over the fine details of the eligibility rules for your benefit. For example, Universal Credit claimants can get the payment, but only if you are not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’ and if your partner also does not fall into either of these categories.
You also need to meet a further condition, that either you or your partner has a health condition or disability with limited capability for work, or you have a child under 5 living with you. However, if you get an extra amount because your child is disabled, you will usually qualify for the payment regardless of your work situation.
Which benefits qualify for Cold Weather Payments?
People on these benefits may qualify for the payment, if you meet certain other conditions:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest.
You can check the full eligibility rules on the Government website.
Another ambiguity is if payment is triggered in your particular region, as it can be triggered in some areas but not in others.
Mr Waterhouse explained: “You only get a payment if the official weather station linked to your postcode records temperatures at or below 0 °C for 7 days in a row. So even if it feels freezing in your home, you won’t get a payment unless the station hits that mark.”
If you don’t qualify for the £25 payments, you could get some extra cash through other Government schemes. The benefits expert said: “There are other ways to get help, such as the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which gives a £150 rebate on energy bills for low-income and vulnerable households.
“Local councils may also help through the Household Support Fund, and many energy suppliers offer grants or hardship funds for customers struggling to pay bills.”
