13 August 2012
The Social Security Department is inviting Islanders to apply for the 2012 Food Costs Bonus and Cold Weather Bonus.
Food Costs Bonus
The Food Costs Bonus is an annual payment to help households that are just above the Income Support level with the cost of GST on food.
The new Cold Weather Bonus is designed to help with the cost of heating during the winter months and is for pensioner households with incomes above the level of Income Support but below income tax thresholds. Pensioners aged 65 and above who own or rent their own home are eligible to claim.
Anyone who may be eligible but has not applied for either of the bonuses before should contact the department or download an application form from the 'Food Costs Bonus and Cold Weather Bonus' page.
Food Costs Bonus and Cold Weather Bonus (benefits and financial support section)
Who can claim?
The 2012 Food Costs Bonus is £218.36 and it is paid on a household basis. There are 3 main conditions:
- at least 1 adult in the household has been resident in Jersey for the last 5 years
- no-one in the household was liable for income tax in 2010
- no-one in the household is receiving Income Support
Cold Weather Bonus
The Cold Weather Bonus can be claimed by pensioners aged 65 and above who are eligible for the Food Costs Bonus and own or rent their own home. It is paid in 2 instalments: once in January for the months October to December, and then again in May for the months January to April.
The value of the bonus depends on the temperature in the previous period and the amounts will be published on the States website a couple of days after the end of each winter month.
The Minister for Social Security, Senator Francis Le Gresley, said “The States approved this measure to help low income pensioners during periods of cold weather and I am pleased that the 2012 bonus will cover all of the winter months.
“Pensioner households receiving Income Support already receive help with cold weather payments. The Cold Weather Bonus extends support with heating costs to a wider group of pensioners.”
For more information or an application form, see the 'Food Costs Bonus and Cold Weather Bonus' page.
Food Costs Bonus and Cold Weather Bonus (benefits and financial support section)
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