Government payments towards heating costs

The government are making ‘Cold Weather Payments’ for people across the borough to help with heating costs in the current cold snap

Payments of £25 are made during each seven-day period of very cold weather. There is no need to claim as eligible customers are paid automatically.

The temperature is measured using weather stations, each weather station has postcodes linked to it, 61 of the 85 national weather stations have triggered a payment since 1 November 2009 - some of them have triggered three or four payments so far

The payments are made to those on pension credit, income support, income based job seekers allowance and income related employment support allowance. To see if you are eligible visit: http://www.direct.gov.uk/coldweatherpayment
This website provides information on eligibility, and there is a postcode search facility where customers can find out if Cold Weather Payments have been triggered in their area.

Customers will receive their money in the same way they usually receive their benefits and the payment will be received within one week of the payment being triggered.