Low-income pensioners are set to receive a January bonus payment from the Government. Extra money could be entering bank accounts over the next week or so for people who receive Pension Credit.
It’s one of the qualifying benefits for Cold Weather Payments which could be issued during the current cold snap. The special payments, worth £25, look likely to be triggered over the coming days amid freezing temperatures.
It’s going to stay bitterly cold over the next week which could mean financial help for groups most vulnerable to the cold. This includes low-income pensioners who may be struggling to heat their homes.
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And it’s getting so cold there are health fears for the most vulnerable living in cold homes. The extra cash is designed to help cover heating costs during the freezing spell.
Emergency payments will be triggered when average temperatures are 0C over a seven-day period in a particular area. It will depend on temperature recordings at local weather stations, so everyone may not get cash at the same time, at all. Other eligible households include those on benefits like Universal Credit and Income Support.
The Government says: “You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. If you’re eligible, you’ll get these payments automatically. You do not need to apply, but you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus if you have a baby or if a child under five comes to live with you.
“The payments do not affect your other benefits. You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over seven consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.”