DWP and others paying out three 'bonus' payments worth up to £475 before Christmas

The government and councils are providing free payments to claimants and those on benefits. Bonus payments and free winter cash are being distributed to those in need, including £150 Warm Home Discounts and £25 Cold Weather Payments.

This comes after the new Labour Party government's decision to scrap the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance or Winter Fuel Payment for 2024, a move that will significantly impact many state pensioners' cost of living. However, households can still receive support from the DWP this winter.

Assistance is available, and in some cases, you must apply, while in others, qualifying individuals receive payments automatically. The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free payment for households that include someone born on or before 22 September 1958 (for 2024-25) and, from 2024 onwards, receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or an award of Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit of at least £26 for the tax year 2024-25.

It's designed to help cover heating costs in winter, with eligible households receiving up to £300. Normally, eligible households receive this payment automatically, reports Birmingham Live.

£25 Cold Weather Payments

If you're receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest, you may be eligible for Cold Weather Payments. These DWP payments are made automatically, so there's no need to apply.

However, if you have a newborn or a child under 5 moves into your home, you'll need to inform Jobcentre Plus. You'll receive a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecasted to be, zero degrees celsius or below for 7 consecutive days. For each 7-day period of extreme cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025, you'll receive £25.

£150 Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off payment from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of £150 designed to help with winter energy costs, particularly for those on low incomes or pensions. Receiving this discount doesn't affect your eligibility for a Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payment.

There's no age requirement to qualify for the Warm Home Discount in the UK. However, you or your partner must have an account with a participating electricity supplier, claim the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit, and your property must have a high energy cost score.

This score is based on the property's age, type, and floor area. You'll also need to know the size and age of your property, and what type of property it is.

You can verify your eligibility for the Warm Home Discount online. Additionally, Age UK offers assistance with energy bills and can be reached at 0800 678 1602 from 8am to 7pm, all year round.

Household Support Fund - £200 in some areas

Low-income families could receive extra support with the cost of living through money handed out to their local council. Each council has the power to decide how they want to distribute their portion of the Household Support Fund, with some doing outright cash payments and other providing support through vouchers or other means.

For example, Birmingham's council is providing £200 Household Support Fund is available to residents, with cash grants being directly deposited into their bank accounts . Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Council is also offering one-off payments of £200 to tens of thousands of households.

To check if you're eligible for help, contact your local council, which can be found here.