UK: Financial Benefits of Winter

As temperatures fall, heating is being turned on for the first time in UK homes, but this will create further financial hardship for many in a crisis of ever-increasing everyday costs.

As inflation is high due to high food and oil prices, people whose household expenses are already high are forced to think about how much money they have to pay to keep their homes warm during the winter months. How will you pay?

They will be helped by a cut in energy prices on October 1, which has reduced the typical household bill to £1,923 from £2,074 previously – but still more than 50% of pre-crisis levels. And it will help a few people pay bills, but there is help for millions of people.

Below we explain the government schemes for households, who can apply and how:

When will winter fuel allowance be available?

People born before 25 September 1957 can get between £250 and £600 towards winter heating payments under winter fuel heating.

Eligible people will receive a letter in October or November telling them how much they will receive, which will be higher due to increases in the pensioner’s cost of living payment.

Most people get a grant, which is available to people on the state pension, pension credit, carers’ allowance and income support. People who have not received money before, and are not on a government pension, will have to apply.

To qualify, people will need to have stayed in the UK for at least one day during the qualifying week of 18 to 24 September.

Anyone who believes they are eligible for a grant, but has not received a letter, should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Paying for a cold winter

Under the Cold Winter Payment, households can receive £25 every time the average temperature falls to zero degrees Celsius or below between November 1 and March 31.

To apply people must be getting Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, or Mortgage Interest Support.

This amount will be remitted to the same bank or building society in which the pension or other assistance is remitted.

People living in Scotland cannot get this amount, but may be eligible for a £55.05 winter heating payment, regardless of weather conditions.

Eligibility criteria are the same as Cold Winter Payments, and qualifying weeks are 6 and 12 November. Payments are made in February and March.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount will save £150 off a household’s electricity bill during the winter, which will apply between early October and 24 March.

Those who are getting electricity from energy suppliers in the scheme should automatically get the discount. These include those on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, or those on low incomes and high energy costs.
People can also qualify if their household income falls below a certain threshold, and they take either Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit.

In Scotland, people on low incomes must meet the criteria of their energy supplier for the scheme.

Those on a prepaid or pay-as-you-go meter may also be eligible, and must be given a voucher by their electricity supplier.

This scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.

Anyone who did not receive the letter but feels eligible can call the Warm Home Discount Helpline on 08000309322 before February 29, 2024.

Child Winter Heating Payment

In Scotland only, the Child Winter Heating Payment is a £235.70 grant for families of children and young people up to the age of 19 who are receiving other benefits.

The benefits they must receive to qualify include Child Disability Allowance or Disability Living Allowance for Children and an increased rate of Daily Living Personal Independence Payment or Daily Living Adult Disability Payment.

Families should receive a letter confirming that they are entitled to the money in their bank or building society accounts. Payment is per child, not per household – so families can receive the money more than once.