As January draws to a close, the new month of February is almost upon us - and there are changes afoot for the people of Edinburgh.
January also brought some rule changes, including the use of body cameras for driving instructors to ensure safety - which came into play a few days ago (January 25). But with a new month comes new changes, and things to be aware of.
Here is what you need to know ahead of the next couple of weeks in the capital.
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Strikes affecting people and goods entering the UK - February 1 and 2
People who are planning to enter the UK in the first few days of February may face a delay at border control, as the Government warns travellers to check the latest advice before heading out.
The Government also recommends asking your own airline and tour operator if they are going to be impacted, and how you will plan ahead for the strikes.
According to the GOV.UK website, industrial action is set to take place across two days - February 1 and February 2. Multiple factors will affect how fast things move, such as an increase in passenger numbers, flight bunching and possible delays.
The proposed action will impact international arrivals at all UK air and maritime ports, as well as those travelling to Britain from UK border controls in Calais, Dunkirk and Coquelles.
The Government explains: "Our number one priority is to keep our borders safe and secure, and we will never compromise on this.
"Military personnel, civil servants and volunteers from across government are being trained to support Border Force at airports and ports across the UK in the event of potential strike action.
"Border Force are ready to deploy resource to meet critical demand and support the flow of travellers and goods through the border, however those entering the UK should be prepared for potential disruption.
"Border Force and industry work together very closely at a local and national level to agree plans for pressures while keeping the public safe and ensuring critical goods such as medicines and food can continue to flow across the border."
They added: "Hauliers who are moving goods during the proposed strike action should be prepared for potential disruption and longer queues at ports and inland border facilities.
"Please check with your operator before travelling, be prepared for delays and carefully plan your movements if they coincide with days of strike action."
Scottish Government Winter Heating Payment - February
The Scottish Government has introduced a new heating benefit, similar to England's Cold Weather Payment, that aims to help approximately 400,000 households on low income. The benefit will give these households a guaranteed £50 payment towards their energy bills.
The Winter Heating Payment will be administered by Social Security Scotland, and replaces the Cold Weather Payment, worth £25, delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Households on qualifying benefits will be eligible for the extra payment, if they were in receipt of the benefit during the qualifying week between November 7 and November 13, 2022. The difference between the Winter Heating Payment and the Cold Weather Payment is that the temperature doesn't matter in Scotland - but it does in England.
These eligible benefits include:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Payments are set to be made from February, although no specific dates have been announced. Those who are eligible will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland before they make the payment.
Payments will land automatically in bank accounts, under the code ‘WHP’ - which stands for Winter Heating Payment.
Rail strikes - February 1, 2 and 3
From tomorrow (February 1) until February 3, train drivers from union Aslef and RMT will walk out as part of an ongoing industrial dispute. The companies affected by these strikes include the likes of Avanti West Coast as well as TransPennine Express.
However, Scotrail have stressed that the "upcoming strike action by rail union, ASLEF, on 1 and 3 February, doesn’t involve ScotRail drivers and our services will not be affected."
The ASLEF union posted an announcement on their website, which read: "ASLEF has rejected a proposal – that was not the result of negotiation, despite this trade union making itself available more often than the other side for talks – made by the cartel [put in place on behalf of a government which has been shown to be interfering in the talks] representing some of the train operating companies in Britain, and announced new strike dates on Wednesday 1 and Friday 3 February."
The union members are planning to strike outside Waverley Bridge, from 9am until 12pm.
University teaching staff strikes - February and March
Industrial action is set to take place in universities across Edinburgh during the month of February and beyond.
Across 11 dates from February 1 until February 28, the various universities across the capital will be on strike. The dates are as follows:
- Week 1 – Wednesday, February 1
- Week 2 – Thursday, February 9 and Friday, February 10
- Week 3 – Tuesday, February 14, Wednesday, February 15 and Thursday, February 16
- Week 4 – Tuesday, February 21, Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23
- Week 5 – Monday, February 27 and Tuesday, February 28
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “The university sector in the UK has over £40bn sitting in reserves, but instead of using that vast wealth to deliver a cost-of-living pay rise and reverse devastating pension cuts, university vice-chancellors would rather force staff to take strike action and see campuses shut down.
“There is a clear route out of these disputes, but at present vice-chancellors lack the political will to take it. They are failing staff who want to get back to work, and students who want to get on with their studies.
“Students understand that staff working conditions are their learning conditions and we are proud to have their support in these disputes. A system that relies on low pay and the rampant use of insecure contracts is a system which fails everyone.
“A resolution can be reached, but that is in the gift of university vice-chancellors who need to urgently reassess their priorities and deliver a deal that benefits staff and students. From February, our union will begin reballoting its members to allow action to continue through the rest of the academic year, should they continue to drag their feet.”
Warm Home Discount scheme deadline - February 28
Households in Edinburgh have been warned that they need to act fast if they plan to claim the Warm Home Discount scheme - which aims to help people with their bills. The deadline for the scheme is fast approaching on February 28.
The scheme works in the way that money is paid to your supplier, rather than directly into your bank. A £150 rebate is applied to your energy bills between October and March - but if you are on a prepayment meter, you will likely be sent a top-up voucher.
If you receive any one of the eligible benefits, you also need to meet a criteria in order to qualify for the Warm Home Discount scheme. Read on below to find out more.
Child Tax Credit
If you claim this benefit, you need to meet this criteria:
- Your annual income is £17,005 or less and you have parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who usually lives with you
- OR Your child tax credit has a disability element
- OR You get a disabled child premium
Housing benefit, Income support, Income-based jobseeker's allowance, Income-related employment and support allowance (with a support component or member of the work-related activity group)
If you claim anyone of these benefits, you need to meet this criteria:
You have parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who usually lives with you
OR you get either child tax credit with a disability element, a disabled child premium, a disability premium or a pensioner premium
Universal Credit
If you claim this benefit, you need to meet this criteria:
You earned £1,418 or less in at least one assessment period since October 2021 and you have parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who usually lives with you
OR you have 'limited capability for work' or 'limited capability for work and work-related activity'
OR your universal credit has a disabled child element
Your eligibility letter will tell you if you need to call a helpline by February 28, 2023 to confirm your details. However, typically, eligible claimants will have the discount applied automatically by their electricity supplier by March 31, 2023.
Applications are open now but only for some companies. You can see the list of who is open and which companies are closed on the MSE website.
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