DWP and others paying out bonus payments worth up to £475 before Christmas

The government and councils are offering free payments to claimants and those on benefits. Bonus payments and free winter cash are being handed out to those in need, including £150 Warm Home Discounts and £25 .

This follows the new government's decision to abolish the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance or Winter Fuel Payment for 2024, a move that will significantly affect many state pensioners' cost of living. However, households can still receive support from the DWP this winter.

Help is available, and in some cases, you must apply, while in others, qualifying individuals receive payments automatically. The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free payment for households that include someone born on or before 22 September 1958 (for 2024-25) and, from 2024 onwards, receive Pension Credit, , Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or an award of Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit of at least £26 for the tax year 2024-25.

It's designed to help cover heating costs in winter, with eligible households receiving up to £300. Normally, eligible households receive this payment automatically, reports .

£25 Cold Weather Payments

If you're receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest, you may be eligible for Cold Payments. These payments are made automatically by the DWP, so there's no need to apply.

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However, if a newborn or a child under 5 moves into your home, you'll need to notify Jobcentre Plus. You'll be eligible for a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecasted to be, zero degrees celsius or below for 7 consecutive days. For each 7-day period of extreme cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025, you'll receive £25.

£150 Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off payment from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of £150 designed to help with winter energy costs, especially for those on low incomes or pensions. This discount doesn't affect your eligibility for a Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payment.

There's no age requirement to qualify for the Warm Home Discount in the UK. However, you or your partner must have an account with a participating electricity supplier, claim the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit, and your property must have a high energy cost score.

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This score is based on the property's age, type, and floor area. You'll also need to know the size and age of your property, and what type of property it is. You can check your eligibility for the Warm Home Discount online. Additionally, Age UK offers assistance with and can be contacted at 0800 678 1602 from 8am to 7pm, all year round.

Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund could provide a £200 lifeline to low-income families in some areas, helping them manage the cost of living. The distribution of this fund is at the discretion of local councils, with some opting for direct cash payments while others offer support through vouchers or other means.

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For instance, Birmingham's council is directly depositing £200 cash grants from the Household Support Fund into residents' bank accounts. Similarly, Nottinghamshire Council is providing one-off payments of £200 to tens of thousands of households. To find out if you qualify for assistance, get in touch with your local council.