Four winter advantages you may get in time for Christmas with cash stepping into from this week
As Christmas looms, many people are feeling the pinch as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.
Even the most savvy spenders are struggling with inflation and rising bills. But there are some payments and discounts available to pensioners and people on benefits that kicked in on December 1.
Those who have already signed up will see payments going into their bank accounts from this week. But there’s still time to apply if you think you might be eligible.
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The four winter benefits include:
Christmas bonus
Some benefits recipients are entitled to a £10 Christmas bonus from the Department for Work and Pensions.
The cash is paid into bank accounts before 1 January – but often in the first week of December.
To view a list of qualifying benefits, head to the government website.
Cold weather payments
These payments are activated when temperatures drop below zero, or are forecasted to do so, for seven consecutive days. Payments are determined based on local weather stations, meaning some areas may qualify while others don’t.
Payments can be triggered during cold spells from November 1 to March 31. Funds are distributed automatically, and you need to be claiming one of these benefits to qualify:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Support for Mortgage Interest.
Find more details here.
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Warm home discount
This one-off £150 payment is a discount off your electricity bill, with your supplier deducting the amount from your bill if they participate in the scheme. Those on the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit and those on a low income will qualify for the funds.
Those who are eligible will receive a letter between October 2024 and early January 2025, notifying them of the discount. The amount will be automatically deducted from your bill.
If you don’t receive a letter by early January 2025 but believe you’re eligible, you can contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme on 0800 030 9322. You must do this before February 28, 2025, to ensure you receive the discount.
All discounts should be applied by the end of March 2025. For more information about the qualifying criteria, visit the Government website.
Winter Fuel Payment
Most people eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment are paid in November or December. The eligibility criteria have recently changed – the payment used to go out to most people of state pension age, but now you also have to be claiming an eligible means-tested benefit, such as Pension Credit.
If you’re considering applying for Pension Credit, which can provide over £3,900 a year in additional income, now is the time. The latest you can claim the benefit and still qualify for the payment is December 21, if your claim can be backdated by the full three months to meet the qualifying week in September for the Winter Fuel Payment.
Pension Credit not only boosts your income but also offers access to a range of other Government support. This includes free TV licences for those over 75, assistance with medical costs and council tax discounts. Find out more about the benefit and the qualifying conditions here.
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