Cold weather payments

DX2

JackieO wrote: »

One of my friends told me that the cold weather payments only kick in if there have been 7 consecutively below freezing days.What a cop out, as the temps only have to go over 0.00c for a fraction for them to be of no use whatsoever . Is this another Government con to keep the 'grey power' in its place ? I am sitting looking out at around 6-8 inches of snow and haven't been able to move my car since last Tuesday as I'm snowed in but if there is a glimmer of sunshine even if it doesn't thaw any snow, then its situation normal and the Gov. wins again it looks just like a spin story to me.

No it means your friend doesn't know what she's talking about however I must admit I thought the same, until I was told otherwise on the benefit forum :whistle:

DX2

1 The current system
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Payments are made from the Social Fund to certain recipients of certain means-tested benefits during periods of cold weather. A period of cold weather is defined as seven consecutive days in which the average mean daily temperature is 0°C or less. Payments can be ‘triggered’ by actual temperatures recorded during the previous seven days falling below this threshold, or if temperatures are forecast to do so by the Meteorological Office for the day of the forecast and six days hence.
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsp-00696.pdf
[/FONT][/FONT]

DX2

meerkat2007 wrote: »

I've emailed them before about other things, and they have usually responded - with a real answer, not an automatic acknowledgement - within a few days.

Of course, that isn't to say they will again this time, given the circumstances at the moment.

You are correct a few on the benefit section have also emailed the DWP and have had real answers

DX2

JackieO wrote: »

As I have had best part of 8-10 inches of snow over the past 10 days apparently it has not been cold enough to warrant a cold weather payment even though my car has been unable to be used and I have been housebound virtually since last Tuesday, apart from hobbling to the Drs to pick up a presciption . I look out at my road in North Kent it is still full of hard packed snow and ice and my locaal shops all closed early last week because of the freezing weather.All of our local schools have been shut since Wednesday and I have had to keep my heating on because I have osteo arthritis in my joints, and a low immune system left as the after effects of chemo so I feel the cold rather badly. I worked from the age of 14 until retirement with only a short break to have my two children and my husband worked every day from the age of 14 also until he eventually retired at 68,he died two years later.No doubt about it our caring Government really know how to take care of their old folk.,luckily I have saved as well as working and as far as I'm concerned no matter what it costs I will be cold for no one,plus my two DDs would be horrified if I said I wouldn't turn on the heating. There are thousands worse off than me, and I appreciate everything that I have, but I do get cross when Government ministers pontificate about how well the elderly are treated and how much they do.They don't give a flying fig for the people of this country wether old or young able or as in my case disabled.
Rant over, I shall go back to being a sweet little old lady again

Jackie sweet little old lady ;) Can I ask would you even be eligible for an CWP?

viv0147

I received a letter today informing me I have qualified for 1 payment of £25 which will go into my account in the next few days. I must say I am grateful to the Labour government because they have trebled this payment, and it does ease ones mind when you need to have your heating on for longer than normal.

baccyman

when i posted the postcode link for the payments it said that my area was entitled to 3 payments and that was what i got,
it was just a long time for the payments to get to us.

margaretclare

JackieO, while I sympathise, the current system as quoted by DX2 above says 'certain' recipients of 'certain' means-tested benefits. This means - some but by no means all!! And reading that quote does not imply anything to do with the caring government and its attitude to old folk. Nor is it at all relevant how long you worked. DH and I have nearly a century in the workplace between us but that does not entitle us to any payment for extra-cold weather. In response to the remark about the South-East not being very cold, it certainly has been very very cold here - close to the north bank of the Thames Estuary where it joins the North Sea. I've lived here for 19 years and I don't remember a winter like this before, not here, although it was common in the Pennines where I used to live. It must have been below freezing for several days because our garden pond was frozen solid, the cats and the foxes were able to walk across it - we saw their tracks in the snow.

My particular beef about bureaucracy would relate to the grants for insulation which are supposedly available and widely-advertised. You can only get these by applying to WarmFront, waiting several weeks to be 'assessed' and then another 6 months to have the work done by one of the approved installers. As we've had ours done by a local company and didn't wait to be assessed, it would have been nice to have a slice of all that money which is said to be available just towards the cost, but no.

JackieO, if you can manage it, get your loft insulated with 'Space Blanket' type insulation. We've just turned our heating down several degrees and although the temperature is dropping now the sun's gone down and there was a frost last night - will be another one tonight - despite all that I'm sitting here with bare arms and a summer top on.

Be_Happy

As has been mentioned above, there is confusion by people thinking that Cold Weather Payment is an addition to Winter Fuel Payment and payable to anyone over 60 whose part of the country qualifies.

State Retirement Pension on its own is not a qualifying benefit. You have to be receiving Pension Credit (not even sure if the 'Savings' part of Pension Credit qualifies or if it is only the guaranteed Pension Credit?), or certain other benefits. Age on its own has nothing to do with getting the payment.

margaretclare

For anyone who thinks it hasn't been very cold in the South-East (we're in southern East Anglia near theThames Estuary):

We went round to the airport (Southend) this morning and were amazed to see that there are STILL piles of snow.

This is the snow that was bulldozed and swept off the runway and left in huge piles at the edges where it couldn't cause any obstruction. The piles of snow have shrunk considerably but haven't gone altogether. It's nearly a fortnight since that snow originally fell.

Didismump

I received my Cold Weather Payment last week..just the one payment as I live right on the tip of S.E Kent by the sea-side so the salt air keeps us warmer, rather than the poor souls inland (my parents) who were colder for FAR more than 1 week. It certainly was below zero here for well over a week as my pond stayed frozen for the best part of 10 days..
So be warned.....when its THAT cold again...don't go (I quote Chaz & Dave) ...
*sings* 'Dannn 'a Margit'...(Down to Margate.. for those of us who speak Kentish, NOT Cockney...Love 'em)...and DO forget your buckets & spades...;)
Oh...and by the way,we did get about 5-6 inches of snow this time even tho we are up in the Gods and by the sea.I've seen and felt it MUCH worse 'back in the day', but nothing like it was when I lived in Germany with HM Forces...now THAT was snow...:)
Keep Warm Now...cos apparently there's more on the way soon....KEEP SMILIN'...:)..