DWP alert over £475 ‘bonus’ payments before Christmas – check if you’re eligible | Personal Finance | Finance
Some families could be inline for up to £475 to help stay warm over the winter.
Households are being urged by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to see if they are eligible for the support.
The handouts come after the controversial scrapping of the Winter Fuel Allowance to all pensioners by the new Labour Government.
The help comes in the shape of £150 Warm Home Discounts, £25 Cold Weather Payments and a £200 Household Support Fund.
In some cases the money will be applied to eligible people automatically, but others may have to apply so it is best to check to see if you qualify.
You may get £25 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 5 comes to live with you.
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 7 consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.
To qualify for the £150 Warm Home Discount in the UK, there is no age criteria, but you or your partner must have an account with a participating electricity supplier, you or your partner must claim the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit.
Your property also must have a high energy cost score, which is based on the property’s age, type, and floor area and you’ll need to know the size and age of your property, and what type of property it is.
You can check if you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount online. You can also call Age UK for help with energy bills on 0800 678 1602, which is open 8am–7pm, 365 days a year.
The £200 Household Support Fund is provided by certain local councils. You can check if you’re eligible for help by contacting your local council which you can find via www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
For pensioners, you should also still check if you still qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP), or put in a claim for Pension Credit, as it is suspected there are many would would qualify who are yet to claim the latter.
The WFN is an annual tax-free £300 payment for households that include someone born on or before 22 September 1958 (for 2024-25) and, from 2024 onwards, receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or an award of Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit of at least £26 for the tax year 2024-25.
It’s designed to help you cover your heating costs in winter. Some households that are eligible will receive this payment automatically.
