Cold Weather Payment scheme begins

The temperature is already dropping considerably as we move towards winter and the Government says its Cold Weather Payment scheme has kicked in again on November 1.

Rules say you will 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 will get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31.

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:

Pension Credit
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Universal Credit
Support for Mortgage Interest

In the case of Universal Credit, you must NOT be employed or self-employed in order to qualify, and one of the following must also apply:

you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)
you have a child under five living with you

You will also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you are employed or not.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/dwp-making-universal-credit-changes-19196317

WelfareChampion wrote:The temperature is already dropping considerably as we move towards winter and the Government says its Cold Weather Payment scheme has kicked in again on November 1.

Rules say you will 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 will get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31.


https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/dwp-making-universal-credit-changes-19196317

Thanks for the post @Welfarechampion

A couple of points come to my mind if anyone knows? Does anyone know how the 'Area's' are classified, is it Councils/Local Authorities or by county's?

Secondly where are the temp measurements taken from, the 'Met Office' would be the ideal choice. As you could image there will be some people to whom wont of received their payment. Therefore, knowing where the information is gathered will provide clear evidence that should of received this payment?

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk

Hope this helps?

Check if a payment is due in your area

https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility

The scheme links postcode districtsto weather stations that report to the Met Office on a daily basis. The Met Office takesaccount of topography, the extent of built-up areas and the distance from available weather stations. Each postcode district is assigned to a weather station with the most similar climate in terms of 1981-2010 average winter temperature.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/672562/cold-weather-payment-estimates-background-methodology.pdf

Just a reminder of the Cold Weather Payment:

https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment

I am on income related ESA. I get under £60 a week, and I don't qualify for the cold weather payment so there might be some people on those qualifying benefits who still don't