Five DWP payments totalling £1,085 will land in accounts before Christmas

The Department for Work and Pensions is set to distribute five payments totalling £1085 before Christmas. This comes despite the Winter Fuel Payment and Winter Fuel Allowance being scrapped by the new Labour Party government.

Struggling households can expect a series of payments exceeding £1k, providing much-needed relief as we head into the costly festive season. In addition to the Winter Fuel Payment, assistance is available for customers of British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus through the Warm Home Discount scheme. This initiative offers eligible households a £150 reduction on their electricity bill, credited directly to their energy account or provided as vouchers for prepayment customers.

The scheme, which reopens in October, is accessible to residents of England, Scotland and Wales. But that's not all. BirminghamLive has compiled a list of six payments due to hit bank accounts before the year ends.

READ MORE: DWP warning to anyone claiming PIP to 'act now'

Winter Fuel Payment - £300

If you were born before 23 September 1958, you could be eligible for either £200 or £300 to assist with your winter heating bills for 2024 to 2025. This is referred to as a 'Winter Fuel Payment'.

Eligibility may apply if you or your partner receive certain benefits. Typically, those eligible will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

However, the additional Pensioner Cost of Living Payment given in 2022 and 2023 will not be included, as it ceased in winter 2023.

The Scottish Government is planning to introduce a similar payment which will be administered by the DWP if you qualify.

Cold Weather Payments - £25

You may also be entitled to a Cold Weather Payment if you receive certain benefits and the temperature falls to zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days. These payments are valued at £25 and are granted when the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or predicted to be, 0C or lower over a week-long period.

It's possible to receive multiple payments if there are several periods of freezing weather. The scheme typically begins in November and continues until the end of March, covering the winter months.

To be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment, you must live in England or Wales and be claiming one of the following benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest: Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or support for Mortgage Interest.

Warm Home Discount - £150

You might also be eligible for a Warm Home Discount, which offers a £150 reduction on your bills if you receive Pension Credit or reside in a low-income household. The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides a one-off payment of £150 to electricity customers who may struggle to pay their energy bills during the chilly winter months.

The Warm Home Discount is a government initiative that mandates electricity suppliers to provide additional support to those at risk of fuel poverty, offering a £150 rebate to qualifying customers. The scheme comprises three elements:.

The Household Support Fund - £600

Eligible individuals can receive cash based on their local council's criteria, which can be checked on the council's website. Some struggling households will receive £600 to assist with food, energy costs, and clothing expenses through the Household Support Fund (HSF), valued at £421 million.

This fund provides financial assistance to low-income households for shopping, bills, or other necessities. For instance, the London Borough of Richmond on Thames is providing up to £600 in aid to thousands of households.

DWP Christmas bonus - £10

Typically disbursed in the first week of December, this tax-free £10 payment is made to individuals claiming certain benefits, including carer's allowance, personal independence payment (PIP), and pension credit. However, those solely claiming universal credit are not eligible.

An online petition calling for an increase in the payment has garnered over 15,000 signatures. It urges the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to consider adjusting the amount in line with inflation, noting that the £10 sum has remained static since 1972.

If this one-off bonus were increased in line with inflation over those 52 years, the payment would be lifted to £114.75, according to Bank of England data. However, if it was increased by the latest inflation figures, it would only reach £10.22.