Cold snap triggers fuel pay-outs

SOME of the country's most vulnerable people are to be given extra money to help them keep warm because of the recent cold weather, the Government announced today.

Cold weather payments of £8.50 a week will be made automatically to many pensioners and people claiming benefit in parts of the country affected by the snowfalls and freezing temperatures in recent days.

A total of 640,000 similar payments amounting to nearly £5.5m have already been made this winter, according to Whitehall officials.

The payments are made according to regional weather variations in England, Wales and Scotland, and are based on information supplied by the Meteorological Office. They are made for each seven-day period when an average temperature of freezing point or below is either recorded or forecast.

So far, payments have been triggered in parts of Scotland, Wales, north east and north west England, the Midlands and south west England.

The payments, which last winter totalled nearly £17m, are in addition to the one-off winter fuel payment of £200 made to the over-60s.

Prospective claimants must have been in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee, Income Support or Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance during part of the relevant seven day period.

In addition, they have to have a child aged under five, or either the claimant or their partner must be aged 60 or older and get a pensioner premium.

Alternatively, either the claimant, or their partner or child receives a disability premium. Only one payment is made per household.

Winter Warmth helpline: 0800 085 7000.