Cold Weather Bonus launched

A new bonus is now available to pensioner households with incomes above the level of Income Support but below Income Tax thresholds. The Cold Weather Bonus can be claimed by pensioners aged 65 and above who own or rent their own home.

The Minister for Social Security, Senator Francis Le Gresley, said “I am pleased that the States approved this new measure to help pensioners during periods of cold weather. Pensioner households receiving Income Support already receive help with regular cold weather payments. This new bonus extends support with heating costs to a wider group of pensioners.”

The first bonus will be paid in May 2012 and its value will be set according to the daily temperatures between January and April 2012. It will be worth at least £120 and can be claimed by pensioner households that have received the 2011 Food Costs Bonus.

Who can claim?

A Cold Weather Bonus application form has been sent to all pensioner households who received the 2011 Food Costs Bonus. This form needs to be returned to the Department by the end of March.

Applications for the 2011 Food Costs Bonus closed at the end of last year. However, if anyone did not claim their Food Costs Bonus in 2011 and still wishes to do so, they should contact the Department or download an application form from the States website: www.gov.je/foodcostbonus. Late applications can be considered up to the end of June.

The Food Costs Bonus is paid on a household basis. There are 3 main conditions:

• At least one adult in the household has been resident in Jersey for the last 5 years,
• no-one in the household was liable for income tax in 2009 and
• no-one in the household is receiving Income Support

The 2011 Food Costs Bonus is £193.36.

Tags: Cold Weather Bonus, Social Security, States of Jersey

Category: Community