Taking the Chill Out of The New Year: Cold Weather Payments Rise

Following the coldest start to winter in thirty years, the Government has formally ordered a special one-off payment of £60 to pensioners, carers, disabled people and those in receipt of bereavement benefits. In total, 10,150 pensioners in Walthamstow should receive this money in addition to the regular £10 Christmas Bonus they get annually. The majority of State Pension customers should receive the £60 payment in January 2009 in addition to their pension. Payments will be made via an automatic payment so that no-one need have to worry about how and where they should claim. And importantly, this standalone payment will not affect recipient's entitlement to the income related benefits that they may already receive, and it is tax free lump sum.

Cold Weather Payments have also been increased from £8.50 to £25 per week for winter 2008/09. They are paid out when the average temperature where the recipient lives is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days during the period from 1 November to 31 March. If you get the pensions credit, job seekers allowance, income support or the child tax credit you could be entitled to these payments.