Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cold Weather Payments

Monday 31 October 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Nick Smith inquired about the effectiveness of criteria for cold weather payments and noted the rate has not been updated since 2008.
  • The Minister stated that cold weather payments are automatic and typically received within 14 days by those most vulnerable.
  • Andrew Bridgen asked about progress in increasing pension credit uptake to make more elderly people eligible for cold weather payments.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP raises concerns about the effectiveness of cold weather payment criteria, noting that the current rate has not been updated since 2008.

Question

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the criteria for cold weather payments. The £25 cold weather payment rate has not been updated since 2008. In today's money, it should be worth £37. Parts of Blaenau Gwent are more than 1,000 feet above sea level, and the constituency itself is one of the most deprived in the UK. Will the Secretary of State look again at the criteria for this scheme? Surely areas with bad weather, higher energy costs and lower incomes should get a fairer deal.

Answer from Mel Stride

I welcome the hon. Gentleman's question, because these are very important payments. They are automatic, as he will know. Typically, they are received within 14 days and they are targeted at those who are most vulnerable. His point about the particular local conditions and the elevation of parts of his constituency are well made and I would be very happy to have further discussions with him about that. There are 72 different weather stations to serve as reference points for different temperatures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address the specific request to review criteria, instead offered to discuss it further.

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Q2 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Benefits & Welfare Environment
Context

Continuing from the previous question, the MP seeks to understand if there is a need for updating criteria based on local conditions.

Question

Mr Speaker, may I associate myself with your remarks about the Pelosi family? I congratulate the right hon. Member on his appointment. The £25 cold weather payment rate has not been updated since 2008. In today's money, it should be worth £37. Parts of Blaenau Gwent are more than 1,000 feet above sea level, and the constituency itself is one of the most deprived in the UK. Will the Secretary of State look again at the criteria for this scheme? Surely areas with bad weather, higher energy costs and lower incomes should get a fairer deal.

Answer from Mel Stride

I welcome the hon. Gentleman's question, because these are very important payments. They are automatic, as he will know. Typically, they are received within 14 days and they are targeted at those who are most vulnerable. His point about the particular local conditions and the elevation of parts of his constituency are well made and I would be very happy to have further discussions with him about that. There are 72 different weather stations to serve as reference points for different temperatures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address the specific request to review criteria, instead offered to discuss it further.

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Q3 Andrew Bridgen Con
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP inquires about the progress made by the Department to increase uptake of pension credit, a benefit that qualifies individuals for cold weather payments.

Question

I welcome my right hon. Friend to his new position. Will he tell the House what progress his Department is making to increase the uptake of pension credit, which means that more vulnerable elderly people will be eligible for cold weather payments?

Answer from Mel Stride

My hon. Friend is right to raise this very important benefit, pension credit. The Department has been fully engaged in encouraging pensioners who will qualify to take up this benefit. It is worth more than £3,000 a year and it acts as a gateway for other benefits. A week of effort back in June saw the uptake increase by 275%.

Answered
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