People on the lowest incomes in hundreds of affected postcode districts in England and Wales will receive a £25 Cold Weather Payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) due to the ongoing freezing conditions sweeping across the UK. However, households in Scotland will not receive the payment, despite weather warnings of an 'Arctic maritime airmass' being extended into the weekend.
The Met Office has extended a yellow weather warning for snow and ice in parts of Scotland until 12pm on Sunday, but Scots on certain benefits or a low income will have to wait until February 2023 for a one-off payment of £50 from the Scottish Government to help with heating costs. This is because Cold Weather Payments have now been replaced in Scotland by the new Winter Heating Payment.
The devolved benefit will give around 400,000 households on a low income a guaranteed £50 payment towards their energy bills.
The Cold Weather Payment, delivered by the DWP triggers a £25 payment only when temperatures are recorded or forecast at below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days in their local area between November 1 and March 31.
The new Winter Heating Payment will be administered by Social Security Scotland and provide a £50 payment every year, irrespective of the weather conditions.
Last year there were 854,000 payments made to Cold Weather Payment recipients in Scotland totalling more than £21 million.
The Scottish Government said that the new £50 payment will not affect any other benefits households are currently getting from DWP, including the Winter Fuel Payment, which includes a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.
Qualifying benefits for £50 Winter Heating Payment
Households on these benefits should be eligible for the new payment:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Help with heating bills and cost of living over winter
If you are struggling to heat your home during the colder weather, contact your energy supplier to see what help is available.
You should also contact your local council to find out if you qualify for any additional financial help - the Scottish Government received £79m from the UK Government’s Household support Fund earlier this year and many local councils are offering extra help specifically for heating costs.
Find the website and contact details for your local council here.
National Energy Action has urged the UK Government to provide more support for “those at greatest peril” as a result of the ongoing freezing conditions.
Adam Scorer, chief executive of National Energy Action, said: “Millions will have been dreading the onset of winter. Impossibly high prices and now cold weather will leave millions struggling to stay warm and safe at home.
“Our figures show that 6.7 million UK households are fuel poor after energy prices have almost doubled in a year and we hear daily from people who are forced to turn their heating off when they need it the most.
“The vicious choice is either huge debt or an unheated home, with dreadful consequences either way. We will now start to see just how bleak this winter is going to be.
“Despite the current programme of support, the UK Government must step in with more help for those at greatest peril this winter.”
A DWP spokesman told the PA news agency that for households in England and Wales, Cold weather payments can be triggered right through to the end of March, “giving people facing disproportionately cold weather that extra reassurance over the chillier months”.
The spokesperson continued: “We’re committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our society and this additional help comes on top of wider [UK] Government support including £1,200 in direct payments already issued to millions of low-income households this year.
“Alongside this, we’re providing households with £400 towards their energy bills this winter, with our energy price guarantee saving the typical household another £900 on top of this.”
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