08 January 2010
Following the cold weather in December, the Social Security Department is making a payment of £47.70 to over 2,300 local low income households. The payment is made to any household receiving Income Support that also includes someone over 65 years old, a child under the age of 3 or someone with a significant disability.
Cold weather payments are made throughout the winter, once a month, between November and May. The value of the payment depends on the temperature in the previous month. A payment of £9 was made in December 2009 to cover November.
Minister for Social Security, Deputy Ian Gorst, explained: "The monthly cold weather payment is made on top of people's usual Income Support benefit. It is calculated using the actual temperature in the previous month. The payments go up as the weather gets colder. This helps vulnerable families cope with their heating bills in the winter months."
The payments are made automatically and there is no need to apply for them separately. They are paid in the same way as regular Income Support payments. For most people this is directly into their bank account. The payment of £47.70 for December will be sent out over the weekend. The next payment will be made in early February, based on the average temperature for each day of January.
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