Further cold weather payments triggered

The Department for Social Development is to make a second round of Cold Weather Payments following a forecast for extremely low temperatures this week.

The Cold Weather Payment was triggered by information supplied by the Met Office from its Aldergrove, Ballykelly, Castlederg, Katesbridge, and Enniskillen weather stations, forecasting sub-zero temperatures over a seven-day period from 29 December 2009 to 4 January 2010 across the whole of Northern Ireland.

Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, welcomed the additional help saying: “This additional £25 payment will be paid automatically by the Social Security Agency to qualifying groups. This is the second Cold Weather Payment to be issued and means that around 166,000 people on low incomes will have received a total of £50 to help them with their heating costs during this current cold spell.”

To qualify for the payment a person must be receiving State Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income based) or Employment and Support Allowance (Income related) for one day in the period of cold weather and have one of the following:

• a relevant pensioner or disability premium;
• Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element;
• a child under five;
• an applicable amount of Employment and Support Allowance that includes either the support component or the work-related activity component.

The Cold Weather Payments will be made from week commencing 4 January 2010 either by direct payment to customer accounts or by cheque. This payment should be received by 6 January 2010.

Notes to editors:

1. Cold Weather Payments are triggered when the daily temperature is, or is forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below, for a period of seven consecutive days. The temperature measurement is made by five meteorological stations located at Aldergrove, Ballykelly, Castlederg, Katesbridge, and Enniskillen.
2. This is the second Cold Weather Payment to have been triggered so far this winter. The payments are made automatically and people do not have to make a claim. Cold Weather Payments are made in addition to the Winter Fuel Payments of £250 and over, made to people aged over 60 years.
3. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of office hours please contact Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.