{"id":125578,"date":"2026-09-16T12:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T11:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/?p=125578"},"modified":"2026-09-16T12:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T11:38:15","slug":"dwp-payment-change-sparks-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/dwp-payment-change-sparks-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"DWP Payment Change Sparks Questions as \u00a325 Cold Weather Payment Faces Possible Overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A proposal submitted to the UK government would replace the current DWP<\/strong> Cold Weather Payment system with an Extreme Weather Payment covering both cold spells and periods of dangerous summer heat. The idea has been included in a winter support plan from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition<\/strong> ahead of the Chancellor\u2019s Budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The existing payment provides support during cold weather conditions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for eligible benefit recipients. The coalition is calling for changes to how the scheme is triggered and who can receive help, arguing that households may face energy pressures during different types of extreme weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coalition Proposes Changes to Cold Weather Payment Triggers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition<\/strong>, one of its requests to the Labour Party government is to replace Cold Weather Payments with an Extreme Weather Payment. The proposed system would be activated using forecasts of cold weather rather than waiting for several consecutive days of recorded low temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation also proposes extending eligibility beyond the current groups receiving the payment. The request forms part of a seven-point winter rescue plan submitted to the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coalition\u2019s proposal follows research showing that some households used more energy during the summer to keep their homes cool. According to new Opinium<\/strong> research for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition<\/a>, 36% of people surveyed said they used more energy than in previous summers for cooling measures such as fans, air conditioning or portable cooling units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research found that this figure was above 40% in several regions, including Yorkshire & Humberside, the East Midlands, the South East and South West of England. It also recorded higher levels in or near some cities, including Bristol at 47%, Nottingham at 42%, Leeds at 40%, London at 40% and Manchester at 40%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Households are heading into winter facing another surge in energy bills, with gas unit rates potentially doubling year-on-year from January.

Today, we have submitted a seven-point Winter Rescue Plan to the Chancellor, calling for:

\u27a1\ufe0fEnergy crisis debts to be written off
\u27a1\ufe0fA\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/W2WLGyAaR8<\/a><\/p>— End Fuel Poverty Coalition (@EndFuelPoverty) September 16, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>