Soaring energy costs mean millions of people face pressure to afford their heating bills this winter. The cost of living crisis means that the typical household is paying 95% more for their gas and electricity now than this time last year and experts have warned bills could continue to go up in 2023.
Both the UK and Welsh governments have rolled out a number of cost of living payments aimed at helping those hardest hit by the crisis including a £324 payment to those on means-tested benefits next month and a £150 council tax rebate as well as a £400 discount off energy bills over six months.
But there are a number of other schemes that you could be eligible for which might reduce your heating bills or give you some financial support including the warm home discount, winter fuel payment, and cold weather payment. Each scheme is slightly different and you might even qualify for more than one. Here's everything you need to know about each payment including who qualifies, how much you get and when you get it.
Read more: All the DWP payment dates between now and Christmas including £324 cost of living payment
Winter fuel payment
Who qualifies: Pensioners – you must be over state pension age (aged 66 or above) between September 19 and 25, 2022
How much you get: £250-£600
When you get it: From mid-November – it should have been paid by January 13, 2023
Do I need to apply: No, it's paid automatically
How it is paid: The winter fuel payment is made every year into the bank accounts of those who have reached pension age. It normally pays out £100 to £300 but this year that is being boosted by a pensioner cost of living payment on top taking the total to between £250 and £600 depending on your circumstances. You can check all the criteria to see what you'll receive here.
Warm home discount
Who qualifies: People on specific benefits who have low income and high energy use
How much you get: £150
When you get it: Between October 2022 and March 2023
Do I need to apply: No, it's paid automatically. You will receive a letter to confirm you're getting it or asking you to phone a helpline and give more information first
How it is paid: One-off discount on your electricity bill – but you may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if it's with the same supplier. Prepay and pay-as-you-go customers will get the payment in another way such as a voucher.
The amount of the discount has risen from £140 this year and the rules have been changed. People who receive the guarantee credit element of pension credit will continue to receive the payment automatically but now other eligible benefit claimants will also get it without needing to make a claim as they had to in the past.
The benefits that will qualify automatically for the warm home discount are:
- Guarantee credit element of pension credit
- Savings credit element of pension credit
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
- Income support
- Housing benefit
- Universal credit
- Child tax credits
- Working tax credits
However not everyone on those benefits will get the discount – only households in receipt of one of these benefits who also have high energy costs would be eligible. The government says it has worked with suppliers over the summer to identify eligible households and energy firms are responsible for issuing the rebates.
Letters will be sent out to tell people whether they qualify automatically or not. If they do they don't need to do anything else to get the discount. Others will be asked to phone a helpline to give more information so officials can see if they are eligible. You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. Your electricity supplier can tell you how you will get the discount – for example a voucher may be issued that you can use to top up your meter.
Cold weather payment
Who qualifies: People on specific benefits (see below) or in receipt of support for mortgage interest
How much you get: £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather
When you get it: Between November 1 and March 31
Do I need to apply: No, it's paid automatically
How it is paid: Direct payment into the same account where your benefits are paid
You will get a cold weather payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over seven consecutive days. After each period of very cold weather in your area you should get a payment within 14 working days. It will appear in the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.
People may be eligible for cold weather payments if they are getting any of these benefits:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal credit
- Support for mortgage interest
Those on income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance also need to have a disability or pensioner 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. People who get income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group normally qualify. If you're not in either group you might also get cold weather payments if you have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner 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. Those claiming universal credit can get a cold weather payment if they are not employed or self-employed but either have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity) or have a child under five living with them.
You will also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your universal credit claim whether you are employed or not. You’ll usually get the payments if you get support for mortgage interest (SMI) and have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner 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. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
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