Cold Snap Leads to More Cold Weather Payments

The Department for Social Development announced today that it will make a second Cold Weather payment of this winter.

Cold Weather Payments are automatically paid when the daily temperature is, or is forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below, for a period of seven consecutive days. This was the case from 29th December 2009 to 4th January 2010. The temperature measurement is made by five meteorological stations located at Aldergrove, Ballykelly, Castlederg, Katesbridge, and Enniskillen.

The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, said “This additional £25 payment will be paid automatically by the Social Security Agency to qualifying groups. This is the second Cold Weather Payment to be issued and means that around 166,000 people on low incomes will have received a total of £50 to help them with their heating costs during this current cold spell.”

To qualify for the payment a person must be receiving :

• State Pension Credit; or
• Income Support; or
• Jobseekers Allowance (Income based) ;or
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income related) for one day in the period of cold weather 

AND have one of the following:

• A relevant pensioner or disability premium;
• Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element;
• a child under five;
• an applicable amount of Employment and Support Allowance that includes either the support component or the work-related activity component.
  

The Cold Weather Payments are made automatically (i.e. there is no need to apply) to those who are entitled and are made either by cheque or direct payment. This payment will be made in the week commencing the 4th January. 

At Citizens Advice we are urging all those who think you they entitled to a Cold Weather Payment and have not received it by 11th January to contact their local Social Security Agency or Jobs and Benefits Office.

You can also come into your local Citizens Advice Bureau and receive a comprehensive benefits check. Please contact the bureau in your area for an appointment.