In addition to the Winter Fuel Payment, assistance is available for customers of British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus(Image: Getty)

DWP to pay out 5 payments worth £1,085 before Christmas - see if you qualify

The Department for Work and Pensions is set to pay out five payments to families claiming benefits before Christmas - see if you're eligible for a cash boost from the DWP

by · The Mirror

The Department for Work and Pensions is set to make five payments totalling £1085 before Christmas. This comes despite the Winter Fuel Payment and Winter Fuel Allowance being scrapped by the new Labour Party government. Households in financial difficulty can expect a series of payments exceeding £1k, providing much-needed relief as we head into the costly festive season, particularly for those on benefits.

In addition to the Winter Fuel Payment, assistance is available for customers of British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus through the Warm Home Discount scheme. This initiative offers eligible households a £150 reduction on their electricity bill, credited directly to their energy account or provided as vouchers for prepayment customers.

The scheme, which reopens in October, is accessible to residents of England, Scotland and Wales. But that's not all, reports Birmingham Live.

The Department for Work and Pensions is set to pay out five payments to families claiming benefits before Christmas( Image: Getty)

Winter Fuel Payment - £300

If you were born before 23 September 1958, you could be eligible for either £200 or £300 to help cover your heating bills for winter 2024 to 2025, known as the 'Winter Fuel Payment'. Eligibility may depend on whether you or your partner receive certain benefits.

Typically, if you qualify, the Winter Fuel Payment will be made automatically. However, the additional Pensioner Cost of Living Payment given in 2022 and 2023 will not be included, as it was discontinued in winter 2023. You are not eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment. However, the Scottish Government is planning to introduce a similar payment which will be distributed by DWP if you qualify.

Cold Weather Payments - £25

You might also be entitled to a Cold Weather Payment. This is available if you receive certain benefits and the temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius or below for 7 consecutive days.

Each payment is worth £25 and is given when the average temperature where you live is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. You can receive multiple payments if there are several periods of freezing weather.

The scheme typically starts in November and runs until the end of March, covering the winter months. To be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment, you need to be living in England or Wales and claiming one of these benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest: Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or support for Mortgage Interest.

Households in financial difficulty can expect a series of payments exceeding £1k( Image: Getty)

Warm Home Discount - £150

You might also be eligible for a Warm Home Discount. This provides a £150 discount on your bills if you receive Pension Credit or live in a low-income household. The Warm Home Discount Scheme offers a one-off payment of £150 to electricity customers who may struggle to pay their energy bills during the cold winter months.

The Warm Home Discount is a government initiative that mandates electricity suppliers to provide additional support to those at risk of fuel poverty. This comes in the form of a £150 rebate for eligible customers.

The scheme consists of three components:

  • Core Group 1
    Eligible customers in receipt of Guarantee Pension Credit will be identified by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and should receive their rebate from us automatically
  • Core Group 2
    Eligible customers in England and Wales no longer need to apply and will be identified by the DWP automatically
  • Scotland Broader Group
    Customers in Scotland who are not eligible for Core Group 1 must apply each year
Typically, if you qualify, the Winter Fuel Payment will be made automatically( Image: Getty)

The Household Support Fund - £600

Eligible individuals, as per their local council's criteria, can receive cash assistance. Some struggling households will be granted £600 to help with food, energy costs, and clothing expenses through the Household Support Fund (HSF), which has a total value of £421 million.

This fund provides financial aid to low-income households, allowing them to cover shopping, bills or other essential costs. For instance, the London Borough of Richmond on Thames is offering up to £600 in assistance to thousands of households.

DWP Christmas bonus - £10

Typically disbursed in the first week of December, this tax-free £10 payment is given to people claiming certain benefits. These include carer's allowance, personal independence payment (PIP), and pension credit. However, those solely claiming universal credit are not eligible.

An online petition calling for an increase in the payment has garnered over 15,000 signatures. It urges the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to consider adjusting the amount in line with inflation, noting that the £10 sum has remained static since 1972.

If this one-off bonus were increased in line with inflation over those 52 years, the payment would be lifted to £114.75, according to Bank of England data. However, if it was increased by the latest inflation figures, it would only reach £10.22.