Cost of living and cold weather payment

wish · February 2023

Hi don't want seem like I'm moaning but I find it not right that people on contribution ESA do not get this cost living and cold weather payments they get same amount money as people on income related we are in receipt universal credit so I thought we would get it but we not entitled to it I've also just learnt that claiming UC and the ESA contribution is treated as income when they work out my council discount

poppy123456 · February 2023

You are correct that if you were just claiming CB ESA then this doesn't entitle you to any cold weather payments or any cost of living payments because it's not means tested. CB ESA isn't the same amount as Income Related, it's actually less if you're in the Support Group but because it's not means tested it means you can have savings/capital, live with a working partner and have a pension of up to £85/week without any affect on the ESA.

For your Council Tax reduction then they usually use your UC statements to work out entitlement. I can't give any further advice on that because all Local Authorities have their own rules.

For the cold weather payments (CWP) when claiming UC then if you're either employed or self employed you won't be entitled to the £25. (if a payment is triggered) If you have a child under 5 or you have a disabled child amount on your claim, then you will be entitled to it.

I notice from a previous thread here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/97921/universal-credit#latest that you were working, so if you still work then this will be why you're not entitled to the CWP, even though your partner also receives the LCWRA element on your claim. You can see the eligibility criteria for CWP here. https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility (unless the child under 5 or disabled child element applies)

For the cost of living payments because you didn't claim UC until November 2022 then you wouldn't have been entitled to the £650 CoL payments that were made last year.

For the Cost of living payments announced this year you maybe entitled because you're now claiming UC. Payment dates and criteria haven't been announced yet for the first payment which is expected sometime in the Spring. You can see the expected payments for 2023/24 here. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-low-income-households-to-get-new-cost-of-living-payments-from-spring-2023 no further announcements of dates have been made yet.

wish · February 2023

Ok thankyou for your reply poppy

Cost of living and cold weather payment

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