MSE News: Cold weather payments - who qualifies?

kevanf1

lilyjoy wrote: »

The disabled get no help at all.I'm at home all day,I can't have my heating on because we can't afford it.Hubby works,but we struggle to pay the bills as it is.My DLA goes on treatment and meds for me.It makes me wonder sometimes if hubby should just give up work to care for me full time.We'd be better off with all the benifts and top-ups we'd get!!! An extra £25 a week would be great.I could keep the heating on instead of sitting with a quilt round me....Rant over:mad:

Keep ranting, it's the only way we get our voices heard. I'm disabled too and am on high level mobility and care. I'm not sure if I get the heating allowance but probably don't We get zero help with council tax after all.

Anyway, due to the nature of my disability I have to keep warm otherwise I am very real danger of injuring myself (I've broken bones in the past). If those on DLA don't get the payment then they certainly should. I really wish I could work because then I'd be able to move around and use body heat to ensure my core temperature stayed up and of course have a decent amount of money coming in!!!!

taldawn

I don't qualify for jobseekers but my pay isn't enough to cover the rent so i get housing benefit. My heating costs me close to £30 a week! I live in a one bed flat and have a meter, just heating my living room leaves me with debt at the end of the month. But according to the info it doesn't look like i'm entitled to any kind of help. What do people like me do when they can't afford heating and have to resort to layering up in a freezing flat???

Indie_Kid

jaibaby wrote: »

So far my area has had 3 cwp triggered. I've received two, and are very very grateful for them. But I don't understand why a 5 year old child is different to a 6 year old child. Why should it be that you have to have a child under 5?? My son is almost two, but normally he is warmer than my two older children. And I don't agree that the payment is sent to the bank. I think it should put straight onto the individuals gas / electric account.

The majority of 5 year olds (or all, no idea how it works in Scotland or Wales) are at school all day. A 2 year old whose parent(s) are on income based benefits, probably won't be.

jaibaby

Yes I know that about the kids. But why not do it so anyone with children under a higher age than 5?? And I personally don't think it's the most sensible way of paying it. One friend (not close) on facebook boasted that was £25 extra worth of beer for christmas. Times that by three for the amount of triggers we have had. I feel for her kids. I had my third one this morning after I posted on here, and went and put it straight on my gas card so it will be used for heating. It just makes me sick that people will spend it on other things other than keeping their kids warm.

jaibaby

winniethepooh10 wrote: »

yeah just a few exclusions, mind you who are we to complain about getting help towards our heating bills, oh hang on a minute I go out to work and pay for childcare so I don't get any help..............

This is what I think is so wrong! I am currently claiming IS and CTC because I am studying full time and have three children. I did work before, but lost my job, and any others that I have applied to I haven't (1) had enough experience and (2) not qualified enough. So I went back to studying. My children are aged 10, 7 and 2 (in feb). If it wasn't for my (almost) 2 year old, I wouldn't be entitled to this at all.

At one point this week, myself and my children were huddled under a double duvet on the sofa trying to keep warm as we had run out of gas. You can imagine how hopeless I felt at that moment. Even before, whilst I was working, we had moments like that. I used to scrape every last penny, bought only the very basic essentials, any presents (birthday / christmas) were all from either ebay or car boot sales. Yet we still struggled!

Anyway, back to the subject. They should allow children of all ages to be included in the criteria. In fact, how about the government just get on the backs of the big fuel companies and get them to give us so much for free during the cold bouts?? They boast big profits year after year. And now the prices are to rise.... nice. And just before the tax rise too. How thoughtful of them! The government say they are trying to get us out of debt..... I think in a few years time the whole country will be in debt. (And before you start, I have NONE!! No credit cards / loans / overdraft. Nothing!)

The government need to stop the mps being paid stupid amounts for sitting on their ar**s and being allowed their "expenses".

I will be here all day on this, so am going to finish now. I hope the weather warms up soon for us all x

jaibaby

sh1305 wrote: »

The majority of 5 year olds (or all, no idea how it works in Scotland or Wales) are at school all day. A 2 year old whose parent(s) are on income based benefits, probably won't be.

I can understand what you're saying, and in Wales they will be in school, but this week they aren't. Or any week with heavy snow. My son is warmer than my two older daughters because he is constantly on the go. He has not long learnt to walk and you know how toddlers are when they first find their feet. But this is my argument. Why for one, not the other? I am not asking for all children to be entitled to a payment each. Just every child to be entitled. So everyone with children gets help.

zowie81

I am on income support and have a daughter who is 5 i didnt receive any cold weather payments when i contacted my jobcentre about this they said i didnt qualify are they wrong?

Indie_Kid

zowie81 wrote: »

I am on income support and have a daughter who is 5 i didnt receive any cold weather payments when i contacted my jobcentre about this they said i didnt qualify are they wrong?

Your youngest needs to be under 5.

zowie81

I never received any cold weather payments im a single parent on income support and have a five year old daughter,ive been told i qualify for them and my area had 5 payments so i should contact my local jobcentre but when i did this i was told i didnt qualify whos wrong here?