The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Steve Webb)
I am pleased to announce that the cold weather payment rate which was due to return to its default level of £8.50 will be permanently increased to £25.00 from this winter. Amending regulations were laid today and will come into force on 1 November 2010, in time for the beginning of this winter period.
Cold weather payments provide help for pensioners in receipt of pension credit and to certain vulnerable groups in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance and income-related employment and support allowance to meet heating costs incurred, or likely to be incurred, in cold weather.
Payments are triggered when the average of the mean daily temperature for a period of seven consecutive days at given weather stations is recorded as, or is forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below.