Last week for Friday Finance
we were looking at the advances in the taxation system with HMRC's
plans for Making
tax digital. As the temperature has dropped this week, with snow
arriving in many places in the north, we are talking about cold
weather payments.
From the 1st
November 2016 to 31st March 2017 the government's Cold
Weather Payment scheme is open. If you are on certain benefits you
could be eligible for an additional payment if you are on certain
benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based
Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support
Allowance or Universal Credit. There are criteria you will need to
fulfill within these benefit categories so do check first. If you're
not personally on any of these benefits please do think of family,
friends and neighbours who could be and would benefit.
Cold weather payments are
triggered when the average temperature in your area is recorded as or
forecast to be zero degrees celsius or below for 7 consecutive days.
The payment is £25 for each 7 day period of applicable cold weather.
If you want to know if your area has a payment due you can check it
on the DWP
website. Usually you don't have to apply for the cold weather payment
to be due to you if all your details are correct and up-to-date.
However if your circumstances change do tell your contact. An example
of this is if you have a baby or a child under 5 years old comes to
live with you and you are on Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's
Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
Along with Cold weather
payments there is also the Winter Fuel Payment available from the
government. This is for people born before 5th May 1953
and receiving certain benefits. Payments are tax-free and do not
affect any other benefits that a claimant is receiving. Check here
to see if someone you know is eligible for this payment which could
be worth between £100 and £300.
Has your area had cold
weather this week? Do you know someone who could be eligible?
If
you want to join in with this week's Finance Fridays then add your
link to the linky below. Any post concerning financial matters is
allowed. Full details here.
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Tuesday 15th
November 2016 to join in.
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It has dropped really cold here and I know my dad had to buy a new heater last week. I think he claims this payment but I will check.
ReplyDeleteI need to talk to my parent about this, I'm not sure if they are getting it or not.
ReplyDeleteI know that my inlaws get this. It is something that I am really in two minds about and think that it should be means tested, as they do not need it
ReplyDelete