First cold weather payment under the new Income Support system

11 March 2008

Today (29 February 2008) the Social Security department issued the first cold weather payments, under the Income Support system.

Payments are made automatically to Income Support households which include an adult aged 65 or above, a child aged below three or someone requiring a high level of personal care.

The payment is based on a formula using the temperature for each day in the previous month.  Today’s payment in respect of January is £29.78.    Households that receive income support benefit by cheque have been sent a separate cheque for the cold weather payment.  For families that receive direct BACS payments, these will be available in bank accounts next Tuesday.

Temperatures are measured between the beginning of October and the end of April on a monthly basis; if the month is cold enough, a payment is made during the following month. 

The Minister for Social Security, Paul Routier said “These extra payments will help families on limited incomes cope with the extra cost of heating in winter months.  I would like to thank the Met Office for helping us to set up the new system”.