Did you know that if the temperature drops to below zero degrees for 7 days or more, the government might pay for your heating expenses? Read on to find out about Cold Weather Payment, changes to the Winter Fuel Payment and other types of help that are available to cover energy bills.
- Changes are being made to those eligible for Winter Fuel Payments for the winter 2024-25.
- Winter Fuel Payment will no longer be available to everyone above State Pension age.
- On top of Cold Weather Payment and Winter Fuel Payment, you may be able to receive help through the Warm Home Discount Scheme or grants from charitable trusts.
Starting in winter 2024-25, Winter Fuel Payments will no longer be available to EVERYONE above state pension age. Those eligible for Winter Fuel Payments will have to be over state pension age and be in receipt of certain benefits. Those who are working age are entitled to help with heating costs, through Cold Weather Payment, if they already receive certain other benefits. Some pensioners will be able to claim both Cold Weather Payment and Winter Fuel Payment. On top of this, some people may be able to get support through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and grants from charitable trusts.
However, it can be difficult to know just what you are eligible for and how to make a claim. At Cashfloat, we don’t want you to lose out on money that is rightfully yours and have to take out loans with no guarantor just because you didn’t know to apply for it! In this article, we provide you with all the information you need to know about the benefits you can claim to help with heating costs.
What is Available?The 2 main types of support available are Cold Weather Payment and Winter Fuel Payment. Generally speaking Cold Weather Payment exists to support people of working age who are in need of help and Winter Fuel Payment exists to support pensioners. However, in some cases pensioners will be able to receive Cold Weather Payment as well. On top of the main types of support that are available, people may be able to have support through the Warm Home Discount Scheme or grants provided by charitable trusts. Read on to find out more.
Cold Weather Payment
- The Cold Weather Payment of £25 is paid after a 7-day period of average temperatures of zero or below. They are also paid if the weather is forecast to be below zero, on average, for 7 days.
- It is given to people who are on certain other benefits and meet some other criteria, such as being disabled, having another family member with a disability or having a child under the age of 5 in the household.
- Pensioners who receive Pension Credit can claim Cold Weather Payment.
- You do not need to apply for Cold Weather Payment. Payments are made automatically by the organisation responsible for your other benefits. However, you should contact them if you did not receive it and think that you should have.
Cold Weather Payment is given if the average temperature is recorded at, or forecast to be, 0 degrees Centigrade or below for seven consecutive days. The scheme runs from 1st November to 31st March each year.
You may be eligible for Cold Weather Payment if you already receive 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
Although Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income-related Employment and Support Allowance are being replaced by Universal Credit (and people can’t apply for them any more), some people still receive these benefits, which may qualify them for Cold Weather Payment.
You are more likely to be eligible if you have a child under 5 or you or a member of your family has a disability. If you receive the benefits listed above, you will need to also meet certain other qualifying criteria in order to receive Cold Weather Payment. For a detailed explanation, look at the table below:
| Qualifying Benefit | Other qualifying criteria (Normally you’ll only require 1) |
|---|---|
| Pension Credit | None! Most people on Pension Credit should receive Cold Weather Payment |
| Income Support and Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance |
|
| Income-related Employment and Support Allowance |
|
| Universal Credit |
|
| Support for Mortgage Interest | None! Most people who receive support for mortgage interest should receive Cold Weather Payment |
How To Claim Cold Weather Payment
You do not have to make an application for this payment. It should be paid automatically into the same bank account as you normally get your other benefits or pension within 14 days of the cold period. It is important to tell JobCentre Plus if you have recently had a baby or if a child of under five has come to live with you, or you might not receive it.
Cold Weather Payment does not affect any other benefits that you receive. If you do not receive this extra payment for heating, when you think you should have, you should notify the Pension Centre, JobCentre Plus or the providers of your other benefits.
Winter Fuel Payment
Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free heating allowance for those above state pension age and get certain benefits.
This allowance for heating bills will be paid into your bank account between November and December each year. If you have not received it by 31st December and you think that you are eligible, then you should notify the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. Alternatively, queries can be made to the organisation responsible for your benefits.
Eligibility and how to Claim Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment scheme runs each year. To receive Winter Fuel Payment, you must:
- Be over Over State Pension age
- And be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
Normally, you do not have to make a claim for Winter Fuel Payments as it is paid into your account automatically. If you are the right age and you were a resident of the UK during the qualifying week, and you receive a state pension or any 1 of most other social security benefits, then you should receive Winter Fuel Payment automatically.
If you believe that you should have received Winter Fuel Payment, but have not done so then you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
How much will you get?The amount that you receive depends on what your circumstances are during the qualifying week for each year. Anything that you receive is tax-free and does not affect your other benefits.
| If between the qualifying dates of 16 and 22 Sept 2024 you’re on an eligible benefit AND you: | Born between 23rd September 1944 and 22nd September 1958 | Born on or before 22nd September 1944 |
|---|---|---|
| Live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) | £200 | £300 |
| Live with someone under 80 who also qualifies | £100 | £200 |
| Live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies | £100 | £150 |
| Live in a care home | £100 | £150 |
The Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off payment of £150 given between October and April each year, normally to go towards the payment of a household’s electricity bill.
Eligibility & Claiming for the Warm Home Scheme
To be eligible for this scheme, your electricity supplier must be taking part in the scheme, and you should be receiving either the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or be on a low income and have high electricity costs. A large number of suppliers, including British Gas, EDF Energy, E. ON, npower, Scottish Power and SSE now take part in the scheme. If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit and you qualify for the scheme, you will receive a letter (between October and December) telling you how to get the discount. Normally, this will be a case of calling a helpline to confirm your details. Discounts are usually given to accounts by March the following year.
If you are on a low income or you get certain means tested benefits, then you may also be eligible. Normally, individual energy suppliers decide who is able to receive a discount. If you believe you may be entitled to a discount, then you should contact your energy supplier.
Grants for Paying Off Energy Debts
Some energy companies have created charitable trusts to help their customers if they get into debt with them. On top of this, British Gas have created a charitable trust (the British Gas Energy Trust), which is open to customers of other energy suppliers as well as their own. If you are in debt to your energy supplier, you can apply to either the British Gas Energy Trust or one set up by another energy supplier for a grant to cover some of what you owe.
Is the Cold Weather Payment affected by the ‘benefit cap’?
No, it is a separate, sometimes one-off, payment which does not affect your other benefits at all.
Do I have to be on Pension Credits or other benefits to qualify for Winter Fuel Payment?
Yes. At the end of July 2024, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced changes which will be made in order to qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment. The payments for the winter 2024-25 will be restricted to those on benefits and Pension Credit.
Can I receive the Warm Home Discount if I use pre-pay electricity?
You could qualify for the Warm Home Discount if you use pre-pay or a pay-as-you-go electricity meter. You should contact your electricity supplier who will give you a ‘top-up’ voucher or an alternative payment method. Keep in mind that prepaid meters are a great way of avoiding expensive short term loans if you are having difficulty keeping on top of your energy bills.
Conclusion of Benefits and Other Help for Heating Costs
In this article we explained the benefits and other help which is available to help you pay for heating and energy bills. This includes Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment, the Warm Home Discount Scheme and grants from charitable trusts. You should never have to take out a payday loan to pay for your heating expenses, if you can receive benefits to pay for it instead. Of course, applying for a loan online might seem like a faster and easier option. But, it is far more expensive. Therefore, in the long run it is better to put in the effort and make sure you are getting all the benefits that you are eligible for.
