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I didn't know the payments had been increased!


Big freeze triggers cold weather payments

Press Association
25 November 2010
MSE Income & Family guides

The freezing temperatures in parts of the UK have triggered the first cold weather payments this winter, the Government has announced.

Nearly 80,000 households will receive £25 each during the coming few days to help cover the cost of heating their homes during the cold snap (see the Benefits Check-Up guide).

Payments are made to vulnerable households when average temperatures are recorded or forecast to be 0C or lower for seven consecutive days.

The first round of payments to be made this winter will go to eligible households in Aviemore, Tulloch Bridge and Braemar in Scotland and Vyrnwy, Tredegar and Sennybridge in Wales.

The money will be paid directly into people's bank accounts, and they should receive the cash by 1 December.

Minister for Pensions Steve Webb says: "Cold weather payments provide real help to the most vulnerable people and that is why the coalition Government took action to permanently increase them to £25 from the budgeted rate of £8.50.

"We don't want people to worry about turning up their heating when temperatures plummet."

Who qualifies?

Around four million people are potentially eligible for cold weather payments, more than two million of whom are pensioners who receive the pension credit.

Payments are also made to disabled adults and children, and families with children under five who receive an income-related benefit.

Around 11.9 million cold weather payments worth £297 million were made to households last winter.

In addition to the cold weather payments, most pensioners also receive winter fuel payments of £250 for households with someone aged up to 79 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over.

Pensioners can also receive help meeting the cost of insulating their property through the Warm Front scheme.

You can check your postcode to see if the cold weather payment has been triggered

http://pensions.direct.gov.uk/en/cold-weather-payment/home.asp

Have just tried that website three times and it is unavailable.

Jean....keep trying, l just got it. Just a temporary glitch ...l hope.

jude

We got our main ones in the post yesterday, will be in the bank within 3 weeks.

jude

Sorry if the link I gave isn't coming up. Please try this one. There is a box a little way down the page to click on and put in your postcode.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/ConcessionsAndOtherHelp/DG_10018668

Hi Joan :)

You're right, however, I think the point they are trying to make is that the amount is permanently increased this year.

Your first link worked for me!!!



The Met Office have notified the Department for Work and Pensions that 1 period of very cold weather has occurred in the PE3 postcode area between 1 November 2010 and 1 December 2010, triggering a Cold Weather Payment.

If you have qualified for Cold Weather Payments since 1 November 2010 and live in this postcode area, you are due to receive 1 Cold Weather Payment.

Please bear in mind that you should not expect payments immediately. You should receive a payment to your account within 14 working days.

Sorry folks, was a bit tired when I posted that.
What I meant to say was didn't know they had kept the increase, as there was talk of payment going back down to £8.50? or being scrapped.
They will certainly have a big bill this year if we have another hard winter.

Lizx

I googled cold weather payments and found that it is given if your post code area has been cold enough. We qualify for the one week so far.

Same here Jean, one week to 2nd December, thankfully our snow is melting away now but sure to get some more soon. I have a stinker of a cold so haven't been out since last Monday!

Take care all, so sad to know elderly people died alone in their gardens and there will be many having falls on the ice as pavements are rarely gritted these days I find. I am scared of falling again since last year's mishap on black ice, haven't felt as well since it happened and I ended up with post concussive syndrome for three months or more

Lizx

I crossed the road, very carefully ,on two sticks, to see my older sister. Found her coughing and sneezing, not what I need at the moment. Asked her if she had taken anything like aspirin, and her reply was that she has a 75mg one every morning1 She knows that she is supposed to get in touch with the surgery for a prescription when she gets like this, but you have to stand over her while she makes the call or it wont get done. Hasnt put her nose outside the door for a fortnight.

From my first post on here re cold weather payments:

Who qualifies?

Around four million people are potentially eligible for cold weather payments, more than two million of whom are pensioners who receive the pension credit.

Payments are also made to disabled adults and children, and families with children under five who receive an income-related benefit.

Around 11.9 million cold weather payments worth £297 million were made to households last winter.



The £10 Christmas bonus was paid into my bank today!

LIzx