THOUSANDS of households can claim winter fuel payments worth up to £1,500 as temperatures plummet.
Cold weather inevitably means more people turning to their heating and driving up bills.
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But you might be able to bag direct cash payments or targeted support to cover the additional costs, depending on your circumstances.
From cold weather payments, to the Household Support Fund and child winter heating payment, here’s everything you could get.
Bear in mind, not all of these payments are available UK-wide.
Cold weather payment – £25
Cold weather payments are issued to households that experience seven consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures.
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You receive a £25 payment for each seven-day period, meaning you could be in line for more if the weather stays cold for long enough.
In the past, some households have been known to receive up to £75 following long bouts of frosty weather.
The payments are only issued between November and March each winter.
Meanwhile, you have to be on certain benefits to qualify. You are eligible if you receive one of the following benefits:
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You may also need to meet one or more of these additional criteria to qualify:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credits that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
You can find out more about eligibility on the government’s website.
Warm home discount scheme – £150
Thousands can get a one-time £150 deducted from their energy bills through the warm home discount scheme.
The discount is applied between October and March each winter.
Again, you have to be on certain benefits to qualify. These are:
If you live in England or Wales, you receive the warm home discount automatically.
However, households in Scotland sometimes have to apply via their energy supplier if they fall outside what’s known as the “core group”.
Winter fuel payment – up to £600
The winter fuel payment is open to elderly households struggling with higher bills over the colder months.
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for an up to £600 payment.
To be eligible in the first instance, you have to have been born before September 25, 1957, and usually need to be living in the UK.
More on the eligibility requirements can be found on the government’s website.
Anyone who is eligible should have received a letter in October in November informing them.
Most payments are made in November and December, although some households will still be paid this month.
If you haven’t been paid by January 26, you should get in touch with the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Fuel vouchers – worth £50
If you’re on a prepayment meter you might be able to get a one-off voucher to top up.
It comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity, and is offered through a range of organisations like food banks and Citizens Advice.
The best place to start to find somewhere which can offer you a fuel voucher is by asking your local council.
The voucher should help you cover around two weeks’ worth of electricity use.
Some energy companies may also issue their own vouchers, so ask your supplier directly.
Energy grants – up to £1,500
A number of energy firms offer grants to customers struggling to pay their bills.
But what you are entitled to varies depending on who your provider is.
British Gas offers grants worth up to £1,500 while households with Scottish Power can get up to £750.
Meanwhile, those with Octopus Energy can claim up to £500 via the firm’s Assist Fund.
It’s worth contacting your supplier to see what’s available to you.
Household Support Fund – £350
The Household Support Fund was set up by the government to mostly help those on a low income or benefits with the cost of living.
The help you can get varies depending on where you live and what amount of the fund your council has been allotted.
But in most cases it will be a direct cash payment or voucher which you can redeem on food or energy bills.
Four areas in England are currently handing out support worth up to £350.
Child winter heating payment (Scotland) – £235
The child winter heating payment, formerly known as child winter heating assistance, is paid to thousands of families from November each year.
The cash, worth £235.70, is issued to households to cover the cost of higher energy bills during the colder months.
But the benefit is only available to households in Scotland – around 26,000 payments were made in 2022/23.
You also have to be 18 or under and in receipt of one the following benefits:
- the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment
- the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children
- the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
- the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment
Anyone eligible can apply by filling in a paper form found on the Scottish Government’s website.
Even with the above payments, the cost of energy bills has still soared so you should drive down costs as much as possible.
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You can do this by setting your thermostat to the right temperature and having it in the right location in your home.
Meanwhile, you can save money on your heating bill by opting for energy-saving devices such as electric blankets, heated throws and portable heaters.
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