DWP claimants issued update over £25 summer payments scheme | Personal Finance | Finance
A scheme is already in place to provide extra support for millions of benefit claimants when particularly cold weather strikes over winter. The Cold Weather Payment scheme provides one-off payments of £25, which are triggered to people in areas where temperatures are below zero across seven consecutive days.
This support scheme is in place from the start of November to the end of March each year and you can get several payments of £25 if they are triggered several times in your particular locality. People on Pension Credit, Universal Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance can qualify for this support, if they meet certain other conditions.
But with the UK now experiencing more periods of particularly hot temperatures, the case could be made that there should be a similar scheme during heatwaves. Rebecca Lamb, external relations manager at debt support group Money Wellness, said the hot weather can cause extra costs for households.
‘Unavoidable extra costs’
She said: “A Warm Weather Payment might sound unnecessary, but for some households, extreme heat brings unavoidable extra costs. Older people, disabled people, those with long-term health conditions, pregnant women, families with young children and people taking certain medications can all be more vulnerable during heatwaves.
“Keeping homes cool, using fans more often, increasing water use or storing some medicines safely can all add to household bills. As our summers become hotter and heatwaves more frequent, it’s reasonable to ask whether financial support should evolve to reflect the costs of extreme weather, not just freezing temperatures.”
But she said a hot weather-linked payment scheme should not be based too closely on the Cold Weather Payment programme. Ms Lamb said: “Rather than simply mirroring the Cold Weather Payment, any support should be targeted at households most vulnerable to both the health risks and the financial impact of extreme heat.
“At the moment, there is no Warm Weather Payment or equivalent DWP scheme. People struggling with higher costs during hot weather will generally need to rely on existing benefits or help from their local council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund.”
The DWP was asked for a comment about whether it has considered bringing in such a scheme.
More DWP support on offer
The Cold Weather Payments scheme only operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Meanwhile in Scotland, there is a Winter Heating Payment that goes out to eligible people regardless of the weather conditions. This payment will be for £62 this coming winter.
Many DWP benefit claimants get other extra support from the DWP to help them through the winter. One extra amount you can get is the Winter Fuel Payment, which provides between £100 and £300 to help towards your heating bills.
There is also the Warm Home Discount, a £150 rebate which is automatically deducted from your electricity bill if you are eligible and if your supplier is signed up to the scheme.
