Cold Weather Payments

Murphybear

I have contacted my MP to ask for information about Gov policy on extra payments in April if the weather persists in being cold. Last time I contacted him it took a week to reply so hopefully I'll hear from him before the weather gets warmer!

unclepotter

Murphybear wrote: »

I have contacted my MP to ask for information about Gov policy on extra payments in April if the weather persists in being cold. Last time I contacted him it took a week to reply so hopefully I'll hear from him before the weather gets warmer!

I wouldn't hold my breath.The government already know that this cold snap will be going on into April,if they were going to act they would have done so.
Come April 1st there will be plenty of benefit reducing measures coming into effect so I can't see them wanting to give more away.

And bear in mind its actual temperatures that count,not wind chill temperatures which have been well below normal temperatures

ani_26

I have solved the mystery as to why the cwp payments aren't being triggered around here. The weather station used for my area, is some 20 miles away, and at a significantly lower altitude.


The DWP uses some 92 weather stations.


Here is a list of them, how many times each station has triggered, and some information, if anyone is interested.



http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/sf_cwp/2012_13/sf_cold_payts_22_mar_2013.pdf

Vegeta_ble

You should probably contact the DWP and/or your MP, and mention this fact. If your area is regularly several degrees colder than where the weather station is, you've got a good case there. If you can get someone to take temperature readings, that's even better.

ani_26

Vegeta_ble wrote: »

You should probably contact the DWP and/or your MP, and mention this fact. If your area is regularly several degrees colder than where the weather station is, you've got a good case there. If you can get someone to take temperature readings, that's even better.

The Dwp aren't interested. After all, it's taken as an average overall. It's tough if you happen to live in one of the highest areas (and therefore coldest,) in the country. Move? It's frustrating, at any rate. It's still -3c here now. The temperature has risen 1 degree in an hour and a half.

My weather station is in a different county. I may contact my Mp, as they DO live in the same county as i do.

zebra12

zebra12 wrote: »

Does anyone know to check if there were any cold weather payments due in previous years? I was appealing a decision on my ESA claim from September 2011 until about June 2012, which has only just been resolved and found in my favour. Is it possible to check if I am due any back payments during the winter of 2011/2012 when the DWP just stopped paying my ESA altogether?


Also, I have logged onto the postcode checker and discovered that this winter 2 cold weather payments have been made. I have only received one payment, who do I need to take this up with?

Thank you in advance

Just thought I'd update to say there is still no progress on my two issues listed above.

I have raised both concerns with the job centre but after being promised but not receiving numerous call backs to resolve the missing payments I finally have been told my issues won't even be looked at for 'a few weeks'.

I am very disappointed and anxious about this situation. I am incurring costs related to poor weather now, not in a few weeks. I wonder if the DWP would be happy if I told them it would be 'a few weeks' before I paid them an owed debt.

richard9991

zebra12 wrote: »

Just thought I'd update to say there is still no progress on my two issues listed above.

I have raised both concerns with the job centre but after being promised but not receiving numerous call backs to resolve the missing payments I finally have been told my issues won't even be looked at for 'a few weeks'.

I am very disappointed and anxious about this situation. I am incurring costs related to poor weather now, not in a few weeks. I wonder if the DWP would be happy if I told them it would be 'a few weeks' before I paid them an owed debt.

Do you get esa income related

ani_26

I've been waiting to see if i received a cwp for last weeks seven consecutive below freezing, night and daytime temperatures.


No surprises there. I didn't, which proves you stand about as much chance of receiving a cwp as you do of winning the lottery?


NOW, i shall contact my MP. For all the good it will do?

zebra12

richard9991 wrote: »

Do you get esa income related

Yes I do. Have been trying to resolve these missing payments for 7 weeks now.

mrsmetropolis

The temperature here has been below zero for ten nights but we haven't had a trigger. I now discover our weather station has closed down and we are under another area. So frustrating!