Help with Heating Costs

People often get confused about the difference between Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments, both paid by the Social Security Agency (SSA).

Cold Weather Payments

Cold Weather Payments are paid when the daily temperature is, or is forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below, for a period of seven consecutive days.  A person will receive £25 for each period that qualifies as a period of cold weather during the period 1 November to 31 March.

Cold Weather Payments are paid automatically so there is no need to apply separately providing a person qualifies.  If a person thinks they should have received a payment but has not had one they should contact their local Social Security or Jobs and Benefits Office.

To qualify for a Cold Weather Payment a person must be receiving state pension credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with a support or work related activity component in the main phase.  In addition a person may be eligible if they are in receipt of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related ESA in the assessment phase AND have one of the following:

• a pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium
• a disability premium, enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium
• a disabled child premium
• Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
• a child who is under five in the family.

Winter Fuel Payments

A Winter Fuel Payment is a yearly payment from the Social Security Agency to older people to help pay for heating costs in the winter.   

Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically each year to those who qualify.  A person will get a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter if during the qualifying week of 20 to 26 September 2010:

• they are of state pension age or over (this means they need to be born on or before 5 July 1950), and
• they normally live in Northern Ireland.

The Winter Fuel Payment is £250 per household (£400 if a person or their partner is aged 80 or over).  If a person lives in a care home (and does not get Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related ESA) they get a reduced rate of Winter Fuel Payment of £125 (£200 if they are 80 or over).

Anyone who thinks they are entitled to a Cold Weather Payment or a Winter Fuel Payment but has not received it should contact their local Social Security or Jobs and Benefits Office.  Citizens Advice Bureau across Northern Ireland can also provide more information on entitlement and provide comprehensive benefits checks to ensure that people are receiving all the help they are entitled to. 

To listen to Lucy Cochrane from Citizens Advice talk about this issue on Evening Extra on BBC Radio Ulster click on the icon below (17:00 mins).