Cold Weather Payment

diabeticrik

Hello, as the government are paying certain postcodes the Cold weather payment I was just wondering if anyone has a clearer answer than I can find on Google.

My question is, do both adults have to be unemployed to be eligible for the payment if claiming Universal Credit (disabled qualifying criteria has been met).

The dwp site isn't clear if both has to be unemployed or not.

Thanks for any assistance.

poppy123456

As UC is means tested it will be based on your joint circumstances. If either of you are working then you won't qualify.

Universal Credit

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit and you’re not employed or self-employed. One of the following must also apply:

• you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)

https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility

diabeticrik

Thanks poppy I was just unsure as I would of thought they would have put you or your partner instead of just you.

Thanks as always

poppy123456

No worries. I had to read it a couple of times myself. With earnings, the only time you would still be entitled to it would be if you have a disabled child amount in your claim.

Puja

Hi @diabeticrik
You can work whilst on UC and having LCW or LCWRA. 

 I found a page on gov.uk that states you can earn up to £344 a month on LCWRA 

anymore than that and they take off 55p per pound you earn
their example was earning £500 and £85.50 deduction from UC. 

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-your-earnings-affect-your-payments

poppy123456

Puja said:

hope you get the cold weather £25 extra payment as in reality its probably double that it’s costing currently! 

As they are claiming UC with a working partner they are not entitled to the cold weather payment. Full details in the link provided above.

calcotti

Puja said:

Hi @diabeticrik
You can work whilst on UC and having LCW or LCWRA. 

 I found a page on gov.uk that states you can earn up to £344 a month on LCWRA 

anymore than that and they take off 55p per pound you earn
their example was earning £500 and £85.50 deduction from UC. 

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-your-earnings-affect-your-payments

That has got nothing to do with the qualifying criteria for Cold Weather Payments that he was asking about.

5imply_Ted

I don’t expect earnings below the work allowance for lcwra will be disregarded by DWP when assessing eligibility for cold weather payments.

poppy123456

5imply_Ted said:

I don’t expect earnings below the work allowance for lcwra will be disregarded by DWP when assessing eligibility for cold weather payments.

As has been advised, with earnings you won't qualify for the CWP unless you have a disabled child element included in your maximum UC entitlement.

5imply_Ted

poppy123456 said:

5imply_Ted said:

I don’t expect earnings below the work allowance for lcwra will be disregarded by DWP when assessing eligibility for cold weather payments.

As has been advised, with earnings you won't qualify for the CWP unless you have a disabled child element included in your maximum UC entitlement.

That’s correct, although I find it curious that receiving extra payments for a disabled child should prioritise eligibility for CWP over disabled people not receiving those payments. After all, disability means using more heating across the age range. Oh well, just another sneaky saving along with the Warm Home Discount cutbacks I suppose.

calcotti

5imply_Ted said:., just another sneaky saving along with the Warm Home Discount cutbacks I suppose.

Although some people who used to get it now don’t I thought the changes this year were intended to reach a larger number of people with increased expenditure overall.

poppy123456

calcotti said:

5imply_Ted said:., just another sneaky saving along with the Warm Home Discount cutbacks I suppose.

Although some people who used to get it now don’t I thought the changes this year were intended to reach a larger number of people with increased expenditure overall.

Not forgetting some have been told they are entitled when they're not even named on an energy account. As well as some oddly being entitled when they don't even claim any of the qualifying benefits.

5imply_Ted

Typical DWP inconsistency. It’s nothing new. Some of us with zero change of circumstances are suddenly considered ineligible. Someone has to get the short straw I suppose. But that’s probably for a different thread 😉