Are you getting all of your Winter Benefits?
Posted on 15th Nov 2018 at 15:08 ( Last updated on 15th Nov 2018 at 15:57 )
Winter is approaching and we all need to turn our heating up a bit. For people claiming Welfare Benefits this is a worrying prospect, as the cost of gas and electricity has soared. However, there are a few special payments which could help...
Winter Fuel Payment
This is a lump sum made to most people who have reached pension credit age by the start of the qualifying week of 17th September 2018. The amount of Winter Fuel Payment you receive depends upon your age, your Welfare Benefit status, and the number of eligible claimants in your household.
Payments should happen automatically. There is no need to make a claim.
If you are under 80 and of Pension Credit age…
- but not in receipt of Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Income-related Employment Support Allowance, then you’ll receive a £200 payment (if you’re the only entitled person in the household) or £100 each if there is more than one householder entitled to this
- and in receipt of Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Income-related Employment Support Allowance, then you will receive £200
- and living in a care home for 13 weeks or more by 17th September, but not in receipt of any of the three benefits, you will receive £100
If you are over 80…
- and not in receipt of Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Income-related Employment Support Allowance, then a single payment of £300 will be made if you’re the only one entitled to this in your household. Or two entitled claimants over 80 in your household would receive £150 each. Two entitled claimants, where one is over 80 and the other is under 80, would receive £200 and £100 respectively
- and in receipt of Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Income-related Employment Support Allowance, then you will receive £300
- and living in a care home for 13 weeks or more by 17th September, but not in receipt of any of the three benefits, you will receive £150
Cold Weather Payments
These are automatic payments of £25 per qualifying week if the average temperature over seven consecutive days at a designated weather station for your area is 0oC or less.
Qualifying weeks run from November 1 2018 to March 31 2019. And the weather station at Edinburgh Airport is used for the West Lothian area.
You must be on a qualifying benefit for at least one of the seven qualifying days to be entitled to the £25.
You will get the payment if you are on Pension Credit.
If you are on Income-Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance you will receive the payment if you any any of the following:
- a disability or pensioner premium
- a child who is disabled
- a child under 5
- Child Tax Credits with a disability or severe disability element
If you’re on Universal Credit you will receive the payment if you have any of the following:
- you get a limited capability for work amount
- you get the disabled child amount
- you have a child under 5
- you have a disabled child amount
Christmas Bonus
The Christmas bonus is a one off tax free payment made in the run up to Christmas to recipients who are presently or ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, and receive one of the following benefits in the qualifying week (which is usually the first week of December).
It pays automatically. If you receive more than one of the Welfare Benefits listed below, you will still only receive one Christmas Bonus payment.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit - the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
CONTACT US
Still confused? Do not hesitate to get in touch with your Housing Officer, who can refer you to our Welfare Benefits Advisor Drew McLellan. He'd be happy to help.
Otherwise call 01506 439 291, or drop by our office on 44 Etive Walk, Craigshill, Livingston.