DWP power invoice help of £785 you will get this winter – what it’s worthwhile to know

A few schemes are available to help with energy costs this winter through The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Energy bills are set to rise again this winter and with it, several pensioners and workers are worried about financial costs. Officials say it’s more important than ever to see whether you are entitled to more aid.

The majority of payments are automatic, however a few need to be claimed if you are eligible. These schemes work alongside the Winter Fuel Payment, reports the Mirror.

The help provided by the schemes mentioned in this article totals £785.25 However, it should be noted that you may not be eligible to claim them all. Here, we highlight the DWP schemes set provide support this year.

Winter Fuel Payment – £300

The Winter Fuel Payment has made headlines over the summer after the new Labour Government changed the eligibility rules. This year it will only be given to those over 66 and claiming certain benefits. The support will still be paid to over 1.4million people this winter – although this is down from the 11.4million who were eligible before.

The money is paid over November or December and the DWP will start sending letters out to those who qualify for the support next month. Some households will need to put in a claim for the Winter Fuel Allowance – you can read up on the support on GOV.UK here.

Warm Home Discount – £150

You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2024/25 under this Government’s Warm Home Discount 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 £150 top-up voucher. If you have a smart prepayment meter – the cash will be put onto it by your supplier.

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 here. To get the money you will also need to fall into one of two core groups in England and Wales during the qualifying date – although this year’s date has not been confirmed as of writing. These groups are:

• Core group 1 – If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
• Core group 2 – If you’re on a low income, and getting certain means-tested benefit

Cold Weather Payment – £25

The Cold Weather payment scheme gives eligible people a £25 payment every time temperatures drop below zero degrees in their area across seven days

If you’re eligible, the money will be paid to you automatically within 14 working days, and you can receive multiple Cold Weather Payments if there are several spells of freezing weather. To be eligible for the Cold Weather Payment you must claim one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Winter Heating Payment – £58.75

The Winter Heating Payment is only available to people living in Scotland and is paid to those on low-income benefits who might have extra heating needs. The DWP doesn’t actually pay this support, its Scottish equivalent Social Security Scotland does.

To be eligible for Winter Heating Payment, people must be claiming one of the following benefits during the qualifying week – which this year is November 4 to 10, 2024:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Social Security Scotland says the payment will not impact any other benefits you could be claiming.

Child Winter Heating Payment – £251.50

The Child Winter Heating Payment is another Scottish Government payment – having been introduced in 2020 – and only those living in Scotland are able to get it. It’s a payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter.

You can get the money if you are under 19 years old and get one of the following “qualifying 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 (PIP)
• The enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment

To be eligible for the money, you must have been claiming the qualifying benefits at least one day from Monday, September 16 to Sunday, September 22 – this includes if a qualifying benefit is backdated to this period. If there is more than one person in the household who qualifies then each one will get the payment.

Eligible children and young people living in Scotland do not need to apply as they’ll get their payment automatically. Social Security Scotland will write to you before you are paid and the money will go into the account where the qualifying benefit is paid.

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