Cold Weather Payment.

[missprim]

Do you receive this and has it been credited to your electricity bill?

I had a letter from E-ON to say it would be credited to my account but I changed to paying by direct debit about 6 months ago and the payments haven't changed, so how do they work it out if you pay this way?

[quinie]

The cold weather payment is paid straight into your state pension-either into your bank account or a Post Office account-depends how you get your pension.That's how it's done here in Scotland

[albaqwerty]

I thought the Cold Weather Payment came from a government dept and was paid into your bank account and not direct to the energy supplier.

[Sir Alec]

My Dad's cold weather payment goes straight into his bank account.

[bookbinder]

These websites give more information. The second one allows you to find out if your area qualifies for a cold weather payment. There is no mention of an electricity company getting your payment.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/cold-weather-payments/
https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/overview

[EDDIE51]

Got one last week always goes straight into the same bank account you use for your benefit paymens, does not go to the energy supplier.

[missprim]

There are 2 types. one is for £25 which goes into your bank account if the weather in your area is freezing or below freezing.
The other one is for £130 and that goes to your electricity supplier who then credit your account.
This one comes from HM Government and not the Pension Service and is the one I'm inquiring about.

[albaqwerty]

Forgive me for being completely dim, please, but how on earth does anyone know who has what energy supplier?

[EDDIE51]

I have not heard of the £130 one, we got a winter fuel payment of £200 and a £25 cold weather payment. This might be something Eon do for customers. Direct debit payments only change once a year so any change will not be for 6 months, it will probably just be a smaller increase as gas/electricity prices have risen considerably in the last 6 months.

[EcclesCake]

I agree with Alba, how does the Government know who supplies your electricity. Your power supplier cannot apply to the Govt on you behalf ether as they will not know your age or circumstances.

[chrissa1]

I've never heard of this either missprim. That would be Big Brother gone mad.

[slaney]

Did you mean the Warm Home Discount Scheme?
http://www.pensionercampaignuk.webspace.virginmedia.com/page557.html

You could try ringing the helpline telephone number given in the link.

[albaqwerty]

Just a thought, what if you were in the throes of changing supplier and the credit went to the previous one?

[Ann]

How do you qualify for cold weather payments - do you have to be on benefits?

[albaqwerty]

Ann, I haven't checked out Book's link ^^^ I think you have you be of a certain age :-)

[daffy654]

Ann, you have to be in receipt of certain benefits, such as pension credit and other non working benefits (and possibly tax credits in some cases).

[Ann]

Yes just as I thought! Seems its anyone on benefits - but some people who are on the bare minimum savings but just don't qualify for benefits are worse off than those who get them!

[missprim]

have the letter here in front of me so will copy what it says.
We have checked the information held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and your electricity supplier.
You meet all the scheme conditions and will receive £130 towards your electricity costs.
You do not need to do anything. Your electricity company will automatically apply the discount to your electricity account by 31 December 2012.

As I mentioned before, I don't know how that works now I pay by DD and wondered if someone could enlighten me.
Eddie why do you get £200, is it because there is more than 1 person living in the house?

[craft1948]

I live alone and get £200.............

[daffy654]

We get tax credits Ann as oh is on a very low wage and we don't qualify for any cold weather payment. It seems to be administrated in a very strange way in my opinion. Some people who are better off than us are entitled to it.

[boxtops]

I get the winter fuel payment £200 because I qualify by age, that comes straight to my bank via the DWP. The cold weather payment is separate, but I have no idea how they would know who your electricity supplier is - but if it's credited to your account, you would surely get an adjustment on your DD at the end of their financial year.