Effect of Winter Energy Payment on other assistance

The Winter Energy Payment is non-taxable and is not treated as income, or chargeable income for other types of financial assistance.

Winter Energy Payment is not considered income or chargeable income when assessing eligibility for:

• Temporary Additional Support
• Special Benefit
• Disability Allowance
• Childcare Assistance

Winter Energy Payment does not stop clients from applying for hardship assistance for power or heating costs. However, the Winter Energy Payment still needs to be considered when assessing the client's situation for Advance Payment of Benefit or Special Needs Grant.

Clients may have received the Winter Energy Payment but still meet the criteria for assistance due to their individual circumstances. For example, if a client only received the payment for part of the winter period, or if they had paid all of their Winter Energy Payment on their power account and their power costs were still in excess of this.

'Power and Heating' as part of the Disability Allowance pays for additional energy costs required due to a disability over and above the standard energy costs of individuals without a disability.

As the Winter Energy Payment recognises the increased costs incurred for energy over the winter months for all eligible clients we do not expect the Winter Energy Payment to be used to cover additional costs related to a disability.

Disability Allowance costs for additional power are not reviewed due to the Winter Energy Payment.