The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is providing several payments to help with heating and living costs this winter.
The money will come from five different payments - four of which are paid out each and every year with many set to be paid before Christmas. Although some may be paid a tad later in the New Year. If you are eligible to get all of these payments then you will receive a total payment of at least £785 - however, this could be even higher for some households.
The Mirror has rounded up the five payments set for December and have explained who will be eligible for them, the criteria, and when people should expect the cash to be paid into their accounts.
Winter Fuel Payment - £300
The Winter Fuel Payment is awarded to pensioners and is worth up to £300, depending on your circumstances. The money is given to Brits born before September 25, 1957 and who have lived in the UK for at least one day in the qualifying week. The qualifying week for this winter is 18 to 24 September 2023.
If you are eligible, you will have received a letter telling you how much you will be entitled to - this will be from £150 to £300, depending on who you live with and what benefits you claim. The letter will also tell you an estimated pay date for the money. Some households will need to actively claim the money and they can do this until the end of March next year.
The money is normally paid in November or December, according to the GOV.UK website and that is set to be the case again this year. The money will show in your bank account with your National Insurance number followed by "DWP WFP" for people in Great Britain, or "DFC WFP" for people in Northern Ireland. These payments are usually made automatically - unless you need to apply. You can read up on instances where you will need to make an application in our Winter Fuel Payment article here.
Pensioner cost of living payment - £300
This year, those who receive the Winter Fuel Payment will also receive the Pensioner cost of living payment. This is worth £300 and will be paid at the same time. This means that some Brits will be getting a payment of potentially £600 to help with fuel costs this winter.
Warm Home Discount - £150
The Warm Home Discount isn't technically a payment but it is a discount which is applied to the electricity bill for those who are eligible. The money is applied to your electricity account by your energy supplier and if you are on a prepayment meter, then you will usually sent a top up voucher worth £150.
The Warm Home Discount scheme opened on October 16 this year and will be running until March 31, 2024. To be eligible you will need to fall into one of two groups on the qualifying date which is August 13, 2023 - the groups are:
- Core group 1. If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (In Scotland this is the "Core Group")
- Core group 2. If you’re on a low income, and getting certain means-tested benefits (In Scotland this is the "Broader Group")
Alongside this, your energy supplier will need to be signed up for the scheme. You can find the full list of suppliers taking part here. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible - but you will need to contact your supplier about this.
You will receive a letter informing you between October 2023 and January 2024 letting you know if you are eligible. If you do not receive a letter by the end of January then you will need to contact the Government's Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline on 0800 030 9322 before February 29 2024.
Cold Weather Payment - £25
The Cold Weather Payment scheme opened in November and provides cash payments of £25 when temperatures drop below zero degrees for seven days. You should receive the money from the DWP automatically within 14 working days and you can receive multiple payments if there are several stints of cold weather.
To be eligible to get the cash you need to be claiming one of the following six types of benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support - if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance - if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance - if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you
- Universal Credit - if you are not employed or self-employed, and you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, or you have a child under five living with you)
- Support for Mortgage Interest - if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you
You can check if you're due a payment by searching your postcode in the Government's online checker tool. It should also be noted that those in Scotland do not receive this payment, instead they get a Winter Heating Payment worth £50.
Christmas Bonus - £10
The Christmas Bonus is not a cost of living payment, but has been an annual payment given to people claiming certain DWP benefits since 1972. The bonus payment is worth £10 and has remained the same since it was introduced over 50 years ago bar from one year. In 2008, the payment was increased to £70 to support people during the financial crash.
Nevertheless, the DWP will once again pay the cash this year to people who live or are an "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar receiving one of the qualifying benefits - these include:
- Adult disability payment
- Armed Forces independence payment
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Child disability payment
- Constant attendance allowance (paid under industrial injuries or war pensions schemes)
- Contribution-based employment and support allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
- Disability living allowance
- Incapacity benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial death benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility supplement
- Pension credit (the guarantee element)
- Personal independence payment (PIP)
- State pension (including graduated retirement benefit)
- Severe disablement allowance (transitionally protected)
- Unemployability supplement or allowance (paid under industrial injuries or war pensions schemes)
- War disablement pension at state pension age
- War widow’s pension
- Widowed mother’s allowance
- Widowed parent’s allowance
- Widow’s pension