Counting your pennies ahead of the festive season? The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to dish out a range of payments totalling up to £1,100 this winter.
These payments are aimed at helping lower income groups cope with the higher costs that come with colder weather and increased energy bills. Some of these payments are given out annually, while others are new or one-off payments.
Most of them are automatic, but some you may need to claim. The Mirror compiled all the details on these payments, who can get them, how to claim them, and when they're expected to land in bank accounts.
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Second cost of living payment – £300
The second installment of three cost of living payments for 2023-24 will be coming this autumn. The money is paid to people claiming certain DWP or HMRC benefits:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
The second instalment of three cost of living payments for 2023-24 is due this season too. This cash boost is given to people claiming certain DWP or HMRC benefits. The exact date of the payment hasn't been announced yet. But if it follows last year's schedule, it'll likely be paid in November.
Last year, the payment date was announced in October and the money was sent between November 8 and 23. The Government hasn't confirmed when the qualifying period will be for the next cost of living payment. The qualifying period for last year's autumn payment was August 26 to September 25.
If you were born before September 24, 1957, and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 18 to 24 September 2023, you could be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023/24. The payment, worth up to £300 depending on your circumstances, is usually paid in November or December.
Winter Fuel Payment – £100 to £300
In addition to the Winter Fuel Payment, pensioner households can also receive an extra £300 this winter. This extra cost of living payment will be sent automatically with the Winter Fuel Payment.
Cold Weather Payment – £25
The Cold Weather payment scheme, which opens in November and runs until March 31 next year, offers £25 for each seven-day period when temperatures drop below zero degrees in your area. To qualify, you must be claiming one of six types of benefits.
The payment should be made automatically within 14 working days, and you can receive multiple Cold Weather Payments if there are several spells of freezing weather. You can check if you're due a payment by searching you postcode in the Government's online checker tool. Cold Weather Payments are not available in Scotland any more, instead, you might be able to claim an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment.
Warm Home Discount – £150
You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2023/24 under this Government scheme. The £150 is not a cash payment so it will not be paid into your bank account, instead it is applied to your energy account by your supplier. If you are on a prepay meter, then you will usually be sent a top-up voucher.
You will be eligible for the payment if your supplier is signed up to the scheme and you can check the full list of suppliers taking part on the Gov.uk website. Top get the cash you will also need to fall into one of two core groups in England and Wales during the qualifying date – this date has not yet been confirmed for this year.
These groups are:
- Core group 1 – those who get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- Core group 2 – those on a low income, who are getting certain means-tested benefit
In Scotland, these categories are called the "Core Group" and the "Broader Group".
DWP £10 bonus
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gives a one-off £10 Christmas Bonus to everyone claiming a qualifying benefit. This payment, which is tax-free and doesn't affect any other benefits, is usually paid in the first week of December.
To be eligible for this bonus, you must live in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. You don't need to apply for it as it's automatically paid. If both partners in a couple are receiving a qualifying benefit, they'll each get a Christmas Bonus. The full list of qualifying benefits can be found on the Government website here.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up Daily Star's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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