Four DWP energy bill help payments totalling £785 you can get this winter - how to check

Smart Energy Meter In Kitchen Measuring Electricity And Gas Use With Woman Looking At Bills With Calculator
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has several schemes in place to assist vulnerable groups with their energy costs this winter. With energy bills set to rise again this winter and millions of pensions set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments, it's crucial to check what help you could be entitled to as more people are expected to struggle.

In addition to the Winter Fuel Payment, the DWP has other schemes in place to support vulnerable groups during the winter months. These schemes provide one-off or potentially recurring payments to help with costs. Most of them are automatic, meaning eligible individuals should receive the money without having to do anything. However, some may require a claim.

The total assistance provided by the schemes mentioned in this article amounts to £785.25. However, it's worth noting that you may not be eligible to claim all of them. The Mirror has highlighted the DWP schemes set to provide support this year.

Winter Fuel Payment - £300

The Winter Fuel Payment, which is £300, made headlines over the summer after the new Labour Government changed the eligibility rules. Initially, the energy bill support payment was given to all pensioners over the age of 66.

However, this year it will only be given to those over 66 and claiming certain benefits. The support will still be paid to over 1.4 million people this winter - although this is down from the 11.4 million who were eligible before.

The support payment can be worth up to £300, depending on individual circumstances. This year, those born before September 23, 1958, are eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment.

In most cases, you also need to have lived in the UK for at least one day during the qualifying week - this year being from September 16 to 22.

The funds will be disbursed over November or December, with the DWP set to send out letters next month to those who qualify for the support. These letters will detail the amount they will receive and provide an estimated pay date.

Some households will need to apply for the Winter Fuel Allowance - further information about the support can be found on GOV. UK.

Warm Home Discount - £150

Under the Government's Warm Home Discount scheme, you could receive a £150 discount on your electricity bill for winter 2024/25. The £150 is not a cash payment and will not be deposited into your bank account, but instead applied to your energy account by your supplier.

If you use a prepaid meter, you will typically be sent a £150 top-up voucher. If you have a smart prepayment meter, the money will be added to it by your supplier.

Eligibility for the payment depends on whether your supplier is part of the scheme. You can check the full list of participating suppliers on the GOV.

UK website. To receive the money, you also need to belong to one of two core groups in England and Wales on the qualifying date - although this year's date has not been confirmed at the time of writing.

The Warm Home Discount scheme for this year is set to commence in October and will continue until March of the following year.

Cold Weather Payment - £25

The Cold Weather payment scheme offers eligible individuals a £25 payment each time the temperature in their area falls below zero degrees over a seven-day period. The scheme begins in November and runs until March 31 of the next year.

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

When the scheme launches in November, you can use the Government's online checker tool to see if you're due a payment. However, if you reside in Scotland, you are not eligible for the Cold Weather Payment.

Winter Heating Payment - £58.75

The Winter Heating Payment is exclusively available to residents of Scotland who are on low-income benefits and may have additional heating needs. This support is not provided by the DWP but by its Scottish counterpart, Social Security Scotland.

This payment replaced the DWP's Cold Weather Payment and, unlike it, the Winter Heating Payment does not depend on how cold the temperature gets. Instead, it is an annual payment of £55.05 that is paid automatically.

Last year, the payment was £55.05, but it has been increased along with other DWP benefits.

To qualify for the Winter Heating Payment, individuals must be in receipt of one of the specified benefits during the qualifying week, which is set for 4 to 10 November 2024 this year:.

According to Social Security Scotland, receiving the payment will not affect any other benefits you may be claiming.

Scottish Child Winter Heating Payment - £251.50

This particular payment, established by the Scottish Government in 2020 and only available to residents of Scotland, assists disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating expenses during the colder months. It is an annual payment, with disbursements commencing in November this year.

Eligibility requires being under 19 and on one of the "qualifying benefits" during a specific timeframe:.

To secure the payment, it's necessary to have been on the qualifying benefits for at least one day between Monday, 16 September and Sunday, 22 September and this includes situations where a qualifying benefit has been backdated to within this period. In households with multiple eligible individuals, each will receive their own payment.

Those eligible youngsters living in Scotland need not apply; payments will be processed automatically. Social Security Scotland intends to send letters prior to the payment date, and the funds will be transferred into the account associated with the recipient's qualifying benefit.