Would this be a better way for Cold Weather Payments?

NotArobot24

My understanding is that Cold Weather Payments were introduced decades ago and have not been changed since despite changes to energy prices.

For me they never seem to work when you need them because of the requirements.

It is not so much that I want the Gov to pay more but that they pay it when useful.

Currently "Cold Weather Payments in 2025 provide £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather (average temperature of 0°C or below) between November 1 and March 31. To qualify, you must be receiving certain benefits and live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland; payments are made automatically within 14 working days after the qualifying period".

In my experience we rarely get 7 days of 0°C, sometimes 6 or 5 days for which we get £0.00 in CWP. 

So when we have sub zero temperature I do not risk putting the heating on until I know whether the payment would be payable.

Would it be better / fairer to provide £3 for each sub zero day, then one could be confident by checking .Gov page 

If this would make it cost too much then perhaps perhaps starting on day 2 or even reducing to £2 would be something I could rely upon.

I am risk averse on having heating on because many year ago I had a quarter where I got a £2487 bill, it was an issue with the Eco7 meter  but it took literally years to sort out.

Would this system cost around the same but deliver when needed or would it cost billions as everything seems to cost now?

Also could some money be saved by not sending out a letter for every payment, .Gov could be paying 0.005p per SMS or not even bother informing us, by the time they send letters it is long past and maybe better to pay us via the energy company who can inform us?

That way we are assured it is used we can just check the existing .Gov page

QrizB

This seems like a topic for the Benefits board. I'll ask for it to be moved.

Spoonie_Turtle

QrizB said:

This seems like a topic for the Benefits board. I'll ask for it to be moved.

(Just a heads-up that the benefits board is not for discussing policy, so if it is moved there it will likely be closed anyway.)

NotArobot24

I would request that the matter is given serious consideration for a better way, this is not about politics but about energy

MeteredOut

NotArobot24 said:

I would request that the matter is given serious consideration for a better way, this is not about politics but about energy

Have you raised this with your MP? Even if people on this board give it serious consideration, that won't change anything.