The Department for Work and Pensions could be issuing free £25 payments rising to £75 for people on six benefits. You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest.
Cold Weather Payments are issued between November and March each winter. The extra cash is designed to help cover the extra costs associated with cold weather – like the need to put on your heating. The payments are made automatically if you’re eligible and appear in your bank statement within 14 days and will come as the UK faces a three-day weather alert.
You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and have any of the following: a disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element and a child under 5 living with you.
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You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group. If you’re not in either group, you might also get Cold Weather Payments if you have any of the following: 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 and a child under 5 living with you.
You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit and you are not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’ or your partner is not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’ (if you have a partner). You’re likely to be considered ‘gainfully self-employed’ if being self-employed is your main job, you work regularly and expect to make a profit.
One of the following must also apply: you or your partner have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity) or you have a child under 5 living with you. You’ll also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim. It does not matter whether you or your partner are employed, self-employed or not working.
You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) and you’re treated as getting a qualifying benefit where one of the following applies: a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, you have a child who is disabled, you get Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or you have a child under 5 living with you.
You’re usually treated as getting a qualifying benefit if you apply for it but do not receive it because your income is too high.