Extra Dosh For the M-i-L

The early bout of Arctic weather has already triggered £100 million of extra benefits spending, more than the sum ministers had budgeted for the entire winter. 

Around four million old and vulnerable people this week received the first cold weather payments of the year, after low temperatures triggered extra payments to pensioners and other welfare recipients.  They are entitled to £25 for each seven day period of extremely cold weather between 1st November and 31st March.

The Department of Work and Pensions said it spent £103 million on the payments this week, but the Treasury projection for cold weather payments this year had been only £76 million.

Last year’s winter was also much colder than the average, leading to total cold weather payments of almost £300 million.