Help is available to those on lower incomes to pay their fuel bills during the cold winter months. Introduced by the Government, they come into place whenever there is a prolonged period of temperatures that are below zero. Payments are available to some people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Who is eligible?
Unlike the previous winter fuel payment, cold weather payments are not related to age, but you must be in receipt of certain benefits such as Income Support, Pension Credit and Job Seekers Allowance. If you are eligible, you don’t have to do anything, as the payment will be automatically sent to the bank account you use to receive your benefits. If you live in Scotland, you cannot receive cold weather payments but may be able to claim a winter heating payment.
Save energy and cut your bills
It can be difficult to pay your energy bills if you are on a low income, but we can all do things to save energy and lower our fuel costs. This includes taking simple measures like turning off lights, lowering thermostats and only heating rooms that are in use.
More and more homeowners are opting to invest in new technology too, which is greener and cost-effective. There has been a surge in the installation of air source heat pumps, which can lower bills and reduce energy use, keeping the temperature constant in a property. For those looking to install air source heat pumps Cheltenham, firms such as gsmlimited.com/services/air-source-heat-pumps/cheltenham can guide you through what’s involved.
When do cold weather payments happen?
If the temperature is forecast to be below freezing for a week or is 0° C for seven consecutive days in a local area, it will trigger cold weather payments. The scheme starts in November and ends on March 31. At the beginning of 2025, cold weather payments were made to some householders in Northumberland, Cumbria and the Scottish Borders and many other areas were quickly added due to freezing temperatures. Anyone eligible receives £25 for the seven-day period and can receive more than one payment.