Key DWP payment dates for 2024: Universal Credit, Warm Home Discount and Christmas Bonus

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The ongoing cost of living crisis continues to increase prices, impacting everything from energy bills to food costs.

As winter approaches, it's crucial for millions of people to secure as much financial aid as possible. Many depend on Department for Work and Pension (DWP) payments to help them stay afloat financially.

The amount received largely hinges on the benefits you're entitled to and what you are currently being paid. The Government provides various funds aimed at supporting the most vulnerable individuals, particularly as temperatures fall.

These schemes include Universal Credit, the Warm Home Discount Scheme, Cold Weather Payments and a Christmas bonus. With the energy price cap set to rise in October, many people are focusing on their finances.

From October 1 to December 31, 2024, the energy price cap will be fixed at £1,717 per year for an average household that uses both electricity and gas and pays via direct debit, reports Chronicle Live. This represents a 10% increase from the previous limit of £1,568, which was in effect from July 1 to September 30, 2024.

But there are a number of payment schemes that the DWP intends to implement between now and the end of 2024. They are:

1. Benefits going out as usual

The standard benefits and pension payments will be dispatched as usual in September, October and November, given that there are no bank holidays during these months. However, the dates for your DWP payments may alter in December due to the festive season.

  • Universal Credit

  • State pension

  • Pension credit

  • Child benefit

  • Disability living allowance

  • Personal independence payment

  • Attendance allowance

  • Carer’s allowance

  • Employment support allowance

  • Income support

  • Jobseeker’s allowance

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a monthly payment designed to assist with living costs. The standard monthly rate for adults over 25 is £393.45 for single individuals and £617.60 for couples.

For those under 25, the monthly standard rate is £311.68 for singles and £489.23 for couples.

You might be eligible for Universal Credit if you're on a low income or require help with your living costs. This could apply whether you're out of work, working (including self-employed or part time), or unable to work due to a health condition.

To make a claim, you must reside in the UK, be aged 18 or over (with some exceptions for those aged 16 to 17), be below State Pension age, and have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.

Budgeting advance loans

The Government provides a 'budgeting advance loan' to aid those facing an urgent financial crisis. To qualify for a Budgeting Loan, you must have been receiving one or more of these benefits for the past six months.

  • Income Support

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • Pension Credit

If you transitioned from Universal Credit to Pension Credit, any time spent claiming Universal Credit will count towards the six months. If you're currently on Universal Credit, you cannot apply for a Budgeting Loan.

Instead, consider applying for a Budgeting Advance.

2. Warm Home Discount Scheme

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is due to reopen in October 2024, offering a one-off discount of £150 on your electricity bill. If you're eligible, the discount will be applied directly to your bill by your electricity supplier.

The discount isn't paid to you directly. If you're eligible, you'll typically receive the discount automatically. However, if you're on a low income in Scotland, you'll need to apply - contact your energy supplier to do so.

If your energy supplier provides both gas and electricity and you qualify, you might be able to get a discount on your gas bill instead. Contact your supplier for more details. Eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount Scheme vary depending on where you live. If you're a resident of England and Wales, you qualify if you either:

  • get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit

  • are on a low income and have high energy costs

If you reside in Scotland, you qualify if you either:

  • get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit

  • are on a low income in Scotland and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme

3. DWP Christmas Bonus

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offers a one-off, tax-free Christmas Bonus of £10, usually distributed before Christmas Day. This bonus is available to those who are receiving certain benefits during the qualifying week, typically the first full week of December.

There's no need to apply; it will be automatically credited to your account. You must be in receipt of at least one of the following benefits during the 'qualifying week':

  • Adult Disability Payment

  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

  • Attendance Allowance

  • Carer’s Allowance

  • Child Disability Payment

  • 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

If you've not claimed your State Pension and don't qualify for any other eligible benefits, you won't be entitled to a Christmas Bonus.

4. Cold Weather Payment

Should you be on certain benefits or receiving Support for Mortgage Interest, you might be eligible for Cold Weather Payments. If you meet the necessary criteria, these payments will be automatically made to you.

There's no requirement to apply, but it's important to inform Jobcentre Plus if there's a newborn in your household or if a child under five has recently moved in. You could qualify for a Cold Weather Payment if you're receiving:

  • Pension Credit

  • Income Support

  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • Universal Credit

  • Support for Mortgage Interest

These payments won't affect your other benefits. You'll receive a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.

For each week of severe cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025, you'll receive £25.

5. State pension

The new State Pension can be claimed when you reach the State Pension age if you're a man born on or after 6 April, 1951 and a woman born on or after 6 April, 1953. Those born before these dates will receive the basic State Pension and may also qualify for Additional State Pension.

Your State Pension amount is determined by your National Insurance record. The new state pension stands at £221.20 per week, while the basic state pension is £169.50 per week.

6. Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born before September 23, 1958, you could qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment of either £200 or £300 to help with your heating costs for the winter season of 2024 to 2025. Eligibility depends on whether you or your partner are receiving certain benefits.

Typically, the Winter Fuel Payment is made automatically if you're eligible. You should anticipate a letter in October or November detailing how much you'll get. If you don't receive a letter but think you're eligible, check if you need to claim.

Most eligible people receive payment in November or December. It's estimated that 1.5 million individuals in 1.3 million households in England and Wales will claim in 2024-25.

7. Household support fund

Another potential source of assistance is the Household Support Fund. In the recent Spring Budget, former chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that the Household Support Fund will be extended until September 2024.

This fund is designed to aid local authorities in England in providing emergency help to vulnerable families and individuals. You can check your eligibility according to your local council's rules using the Gov.uk website search tool.

8. Cost of living payment

Unlike last autumn/winter, there will be no cost of living payments made to Brits for the remainder of this year. The final payment of £299 was made between February 6 and February 22, 2024.

If you haven't received a payment, you can verify the payment date on your awards notice. If there was a weekend or bank holiday, the payment may be delayed until the next working day.

You also have the option to contact your bank to see if a payment is pending. If the payment is still missing, you can reach out to the office that manages your benefit or pension.

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