If you are a member of one of our client co-ops or a resident in housing owned by CDS and you have neighbours who are elderly, disabled, ill, are single parents with young children or vulnerable in some way, please keep in contact with them during this severely cold weather and help them with essential shopping and other ways if you can. 

 If you suspect that any neighbour is in difficulty and needs more help that you can give, please contact our Helpdesk on 03333 21 30 30 and we will support your efforts and try to ensure that they get the help they need. Take particular care with elderly neighbours to ensure that they are able to keep warm , get a good hot meal at least once every day and have the ability to make themselves hot drinks. Help with essential shopping and errands can be particularly important for elderly people who are at greater risk of falling on ice and injuring themselves.

 Official advice from the Government about dealing with this severe cold weather can be found on Government’s Directgov information website at http://www.direct.gov.uk

 Winter Fuel Allowance

 If you are aged 60 or over you may get a Winter Fuel Payment to help pay for keeping warm in winter. This can be between £125 and £400 depending on your situation.  To find out more about winter fuel payments click here to go to the winter fuel allowance page on the Directgov information website. 

Cold weather payments

If you're on a low income, a Cold Weather Payment may be available to help you for each week of very cold weather in your area. 

Who is eligible for a cold weather payment?

 You may be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment for each week of very cold weather in your area if you get Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance with a support or work related activity.

 You may also be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment for each qualifying week if you are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance in the assessment phase and have one of the following:

• a pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium 
• a disability premium, enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium 
• a disabled child premium 
• Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
• a child who is under five in the family.

To find out more about cold weather payments, whether you are eligible and how to claim, click here to go to the Government’s Directgov website