Important imformation on Cold Weather Payments. Cold Weather Payment If youre receiving certain benefits, you could qualify for extra money for each week there is very cold weather in your area. This is known as a Cold Weather Payment. Cold Weather Payment scheme 2014/2015 The Cold Weather Payment scheme 2014/2015 started on 1 November 2014. Cold Weather Payment is £25 a week. Payment is automatic if you receive a qualifying benefit and the temperature in your postcode area is, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days. To check whether the temperature in your area is low enough for you to receive a payment, use the Cold Weather Payment checker. Cold Weather Payment checker 2014/2015 What is meant by a period of cold weather? A period of cold weather as defined by the Met Office is when: the average daily temperature over seven consecutive days is recorded as 0°C or below the average daily temperature over seven consecutive days is forecast to be 0°C or below Temperature information is gathered by weather stations throughout Northern Ireland. How much is a Cold Weather Payment? Each Cold Weather Payment is £25.00 a week. Who can get Cold Weather Payments? If you receive any of the following, you could qualify for a Cold Weather Payment: Pension Credit Income Support Jobseekers Allowance (income-based) Employment and Support Allowance (income related) A recorded, or forecasted, period of cold weather will trigger the process that allows payment to be made to eligible people who live in the affected postcode areas. Pension Credit Understanding Pension Credit Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance (income based) If you get Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (income based), you will usually receive Cold Weather Payments if you also have any of following: a disability or pensioner premium a child who is disabled Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element a child under five living with you Premiums for people with disabilities Jobseekers allowance Income support Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related) If you get ESA (income related), you will usually receive Cold Weather Payments if you also receive any of the following: the support or work-related component of ESA a severe or enhanced disability premium a pensioner premium a child who is disabled Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element a child under five living with you Employment and Support Allowance - introduction Effect on other benefits Cold Weather Payments don’t affect other benefits you may be getting. How you will be paid You will receive your Cold Weather Payment in the same way as you usually receive your benefit. Do I need to apply? No. Payment will usually be made automatically. Normally you would need to tell the Northern Ireland Pension Centre or your local Social Security/Jobs and Benefits office if you didn’t receive a payment. Payment can’t be made more than 26 weeks after the last day of a recorded cold weather period. Cold Weather Payments checker 2014/2015 Social Security / Jobs and Benefits offices Winter Fuel Payment Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, one-off payment made to eligible people to help them pay for heating in the winter. Winter Fuel Payments are paid to men and women who have reached the qualifying age. Winter Fuel Payment is not linked to temperature. This is different to Cold Weather Payments, which eligible people may get for each period of very cold weather in their postcode area. Winter Fuel Payment More useful links Caring for a child with disabilities Benefits and tax allowances in retirement Help from the Social Fund fact sheet in Arabic (PDF 94 KB) Help from the Social Fund fact sheet in Chinese (PDF 228 KB) Help from the Social Fund fact sheet in Latvian (PDF 74 KB) Help from the Social Fund fact sheet in Lithuanian (PDF 71 KB) Help from the Social Fund fact sheet in Polish (PDF 75 KB) Help from the Social Fund fact sheet in Portuguese (PDF 38 KB) Help from the Social Fund fact sheet in Spanish (PDF 38 KB) Help with PDF files See also Meals at home services Carers Allowance (caring for someone section)
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:23:04 +0000