Stay well and warm this winter

For people with CF and their families, the winter months can be tough, especially if you have low income or receive benefits.

We’ve put together some information which may help with money worries over the festive and winter season.

In this blog, find out more about the changes in benefit payment dates, seasonal grants and payments, and how we can help through our financial grants and our Helpline.

Many CF teams have specialist social workers who will be available during the period, who will be able to help you in an emergency. If you are struggling, please let them know. Remember: you’re not alone.

1. Benefit payment dates

Employment Support Allowance, Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance are paid every two weeks and Universal Credit is paid monthly.

If your benefit is due on 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29 December, you will get it on Friday 24 December (Christmas Eve).

If you are due to be paid on 01, 02 or 03 January (and 04 January if you live in Scotland) you will be paid on Friday 31 December.

If you would like to know about when your Tax Credits will be paid, you can check here.

2. Cold Weather Payments

If you receive certain benefits, you’ll get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. This is called a Cold Weather Payment.

After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. The payment is made if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Check if you’re eligible

For residents in Northern Ireland, more information can be found here (NIdirect).

3. The Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2021 to 2022. It’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March, paid direct to your energy provider.

You can apply if you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme (known as the ‘broader group’). There are limited funds so apply now.

How to apply

If you need a little extra help from your energy company, such as more support during a power cut, you can ask to be added to your electricity network priority services register.

4. The WaterSure scheme

The WaterSure scheme allows certain water users to have their bills capped. If you’re on a water meter and someone in the home has a medical condition which requires a significant use of water, it’s worth checking out. For example, you may be using your washing machine more often if you or your child have excessive sweating or bowel or bladder leakage.

How to apply

5. Household Support Fund (England only)

The Household Support Fund offers financial support to households struggling to make ends meet this winter (until 31 March 2022). The fund is available through your local council and may be able to help with food, energy, and other essentials. Contact your local council to find out more information and to apply

6. Child Winter Heating Assistance (Scotland only)

Child Winter Heating Assistance is a benefit from the Scottish Government. It's a payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter. The payment for winter 2021/2022 is £202. This payment is made automatically.

Children and young people in Scotland can get the Child Winter Heating Assistance if they're under 19 years old and get one of these benefits:

• the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment
• the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children
• the enhanced daily living rate of Personal Independence Payment

They must be getting this on at least one day in the third full week of September.

7. Winter Fuel Support payment (Wales only)

Eligible households will be able to claim a one-off £100 cash payment from the Winter Fuel Support Scheme. You can claim this whether or not you pay for your fuel on a pre-payment or a credit meter.

The scheme is open to households where one member receives certain welfare benefits. You must have been claiming these benefits at any time between 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2022.

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Based Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credits

You must also be responsible for paying the energy bills for the property.

How to apply

8. Emergency grant

Cystic Fibrosis Trust offers emergency grants of up to £150 to give short-term support to people with CF and those that care for them, when you need immediate financial help and/or an item or service, to stop your health deteriorating. 

These grants are processed weekly. The last day for applications for an emergency grant before Christmas, due to our office closures, is 12pm on 20 December. Grant applications received after this date will be paid on Thursday 06 January.

9. Support with your mental health and wellbeing

This time of year can be tough, especially if you are worried about changes in routine, or extra pressures brought on by festivities. It can be helpful to talk someone, whether that’s a trusted relative or friend or even someone independent and trained to listen.

Here are some organisations that can support with mental health:

Samaritans

YoungMinds  

Rethink

10. The Helpline

Call the Helpline team on 0300 373 1000 or 020 3795 2184 or email [email protected].

Our confidential Helpline offers a listening ear and will make sure you get the support you need.

We’re here to talk you through all of the support that is available, including our welfare grants, or to signpost you to other sources of support.

We can give specialist advice on benefits and can support you to find ways to increase your income or cut your outgoings. This is particularly important at the moment for people who have seen a drop in their income due to the cut in their Universal Credit, or an increase in fuel or food costs.

The Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am–4pm.

The Helpline will close from 4pm on Wednesday 23 December and will re-open at 10am on Tuesday 4 January.

If you need urgent advice, please check Advice Local for advice agencies in your area or speak to your CF team.

We know that the winter period can be a difficult time if you have money worries, so please contact us or your CF social worker if you need support.

Outside of those dates, our Helpline team are on hand all year round for any support or information you need. The team can give information on grants or refer you to Sangeeta for help with benefits or Nicky for getting the most out of your income.