Cold weather payment

direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAn...

thats not fair I dont receive income support just incapacity benefit and DLA.

sitting here colllld as I cant afford to have the heating on all the time. grrrr!

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I totally agree with you Clare, because I live with my husband who lost his job last year we are also in receipt of Income Support now so we will get the cold weather payment. I feel that if you are single and living on these benefits Incapacity and DLA then your case should be judged separately. If you get the higher rate of DLA for example mobility then you should get help with cold weather payments. Not being able to move around easily makes it more difficult to keep warm (common sense of course). But since when did common sense prevail where benefits are concerned for the genuine. Maybe someone at ASTHMA UK might like to comment on this!

[yaf_user681_34383]

Hi Clare I totally agree. Its not just cold weather payments we miss out on its other things such as free prescriptions. I too am trying to survive on as little heating as possible am cold most of the time and am unable to move around much grrrrr. Got 10 pounds Christmas bonus from DLA, generous.

Take care

Sadwheezer

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Just realised that link dosn't work oops sorry! Also if you dont receive income support and live alone, you have to pay towards rent and council tax.

Hows that fair when my friend with cf who recieves more benefit money than me dosn't have to pay!

The benefits system is ******* up!

[KateMoss]

Just a quick note about cold wether payments.

DLA is not a means tested benefit therefore you can still claim it if you are working and earning something like £30k a year. It is not the type of benefit that should trigger a cold wether payment.

I did get some cold weather payments a few years ago.

I think it is the income support with disability premiums that trip the cold weather payment.

The benefits system can be very unfair and not take into account peoples financial situation as well as their ability to work.

Cold weather payments should be means tested to some extent!

Some benefits get you all the bonuses but others don't.

If you own your own house I don't think you can get council tax benefit?

Anyway, Please stay warm!

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Just a quick conformation, you do get your full entitlement for Council Tax if you own your house. I am lucky enough to own mine outright and I get full Council Tax allowence.

Bex

[KateMoss]

Thanks for the clarifiaction Bex!

Some of us here had degrees and still can't work out the benefits system! LOL

[yaf_user681_34383]

Clare22 I live alone in a rented house now and receive council tax support and full housing benefit. I don't get income support but they base these benefits on income. Income support means automatic entitlement if you get incapacity as i do you can still apply.

Sadwheezer

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LOL Kate

Don't know if this might help peeps, but I know that my energy company (npower)have a special rate for people with chronic illnesses, I don't know if all the companies do this but it would be worth contacting them and asking. Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say.

Rusty

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I found this on the DWP site

Following the coldest start to winter in 30 years, the government today formally ordered a special one-off payment of £60 to 15 million vulnerable people to help them through the winter and ease worries they have with their bills.

As announced by the Chancellor in the Pre-Budget Report, the additional tax-free payment will be paid automatically to customers who qualify for the £10 Christmas Bonus.

This year's Christmas Bonus will be paid in two instalments - recipients will get £10 in December as in previous years, with the additional £60 to be paid between January and March in the new year.

The majority of State Pension customers should receive the £60 payment in January 2009 in addition to their pension. The remaining three million customers will get their £60 in February or March 2009.

Cold Weather Payments

The Department for Work and Pensions also revealed that the recent cold snap has triggered around 500,000 Cold Weather Payments already this year, worth over £12 million.

Cold Weather Payments have been increased from £8.50 to £25 per week for winter 2008/09. They are paid out when the average temperature where the recipient lives is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below, over seven consecutive days during the period from 1 November to 31 March.

Does this mean all people who receive DLA get this £60 as they also get the £10 christmas bonus?

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The only help I have heard asthmatics are eligable for all year is if the boiler goes that the BG or whoever will come around and fix it rather sharpish. Wish that applied down here.

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Hey koolkat I saw that too I'm assuming it means us all!

I got my £10 xmas bonus but £60 would deffo help with heating costs. we may not receive it till march though which is a tad annoying as its cold now!

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Just had a letter to say that £25 will be paid into my account, I am guessing if we have triggered CWP in South Devon the rest of you should be seeing something soon.

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Its only people on income support and pensions. not me then!

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Just seen a £60 payment in my bank account for the DWP so presuming others will be seeing theirs too at some point. I have not had any letter or anything, didn't get one about my Christmas bonus either.

Rusty

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yep I logged on to my bank account earlier and saw the £60, there is something on the website about it but I didnt get a letter or anything so it will be a nice surprise to some!

[KateMoss]

Nowt in my bank account!

Though just looked at the direct.gov webby site and I may get some.

Some good info there on DLA etc - has reasured me about something.

.......... wonders off to find a fleece...............

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i just realised i got cold weather payment, been sat trying to work out what dwp cwp meant and reading this thread it all made sense. I am new to the benefits stuff and it is a minefield when you dont understand.

[KateMoss]

Oooh! Got a letter to say I am getting £25! Now, how many thermal vests can I buy with that! LOL.

It will help with the gas!

I understood after seeing the watchdog programme on Monday that there are two types of gas meters - Old ones which are Imperial ( Like in my old Flat) and new ones which are metric (Like in my new bungalow) - this explains why I thought the gas was going through at a rate of knots!! LOL! The gas bill wasn't as bad as I though it was.

[yaf_user681_33231]

Checked my account on line and found £60 there, most appreciative.