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How to check if you’re eligible for DWP winter cash including cold weather payments and warm home discount
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MILLIONS are eligible for free cash from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this winter.
Hard-up households are in line for help through a number of Government schemes and funds.
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In some cases you have to apply while in others those who qualify receive payments automatically.
Whether you are eligible for all of them depends on your exact circumstances too.
From the cold weather payment, to Household Support Fund and Warm Home Discount scheme, here's all the help on offer.
Cold weather payment
Cold weather payments are made to households in areas that experience continual cold temperatures over the winter months.
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The payments are usually made between November 1 and March 31 to those on certain benefits.
You get £25 for each seven day period where the temperature is zero degrees celsius or below in your area, with payments usually processed in 14 working days.
That means if you live somewhere where temperatures were sub-zero for two weeks, you would get £50.
You usually qualify for a cold weather payment if you are on one of the following benefits:
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- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Most eligible people don't need to apply to get cold weather payments.
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However, if you are on Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and have had a baby or have a child under five living with you, you need to tell your local Jobcentre Plus centre.
If you don't, you won't receive any of the payments despite being eligible.
You can check if you're eligible for a cold weather payment via gov.uk.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme sees households on certain benefits receive a one-off discount on their energy bills worth £150.
The discount is automatic for the vast majority of qualifying households and is applied between October and the following March.
You are automatically eligible if you receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
You also qualify if you are on a number of other benefits and live in a home with a high energy cost score.
This is calculated by the Government based on the type, age and size of your property.
You may not qualify for the Warm Home Discount if you live in a more energy-efficient home for example.
The £150 discount is applied to your bill by your energy supplier.
The full list of suppliers who are part of the scheme can be found via //www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/energy-suppliers.
Households in Scotland don't need to apply for the Warm Home Discount if they get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
However, you do need to apply via your energy firm if you receive any of the other qualifying benefits.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund has been extended multiple times, first launching in October 2021.
The latest round is worth £421million and has been shared by the DWP between councils in England.
These councils then have to decide who to give money to, and how to distribute it.
That means what you are entitled to depends on where you live and it can be a bit of a postcode lottery.
However, you might be eligible for direct bank transfers, supermarket or energy vouchers.
You may even qualify for discounted white goods.
Households in Birmingham can get £200 cash grants paid into their bank accounts by the city council.
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Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Council is paying tens of thousands of households £200 one-off payments.
You can check if you're eligible for help by contacting your local council which you can find via www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity works out what you could get.
Entitledto's determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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