The cold weather alert was triggered on 8/2/2021 for the period 6/2/2021 to 12/2/2021 and £25 will be paid to eligible residents within Basingstoke constituency living in the postcode districts RG21, RG22, RG23, RG24, RG25, RG27
Those in receipt of certain benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit may be eligible for the payment. To trigger the payments, the average temperature at a specified weather station must be recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.
Local MP Maria Miller is asking Basingstoke residents to check their eligibility, “This is a financially uncertain time for most people and this is welcome support for households in Basingstoke. If you are in receipt of either; Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest then you may be eligible for this £25 payment.” Visit https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment for further information.
Families and individuals struggling to cope financially, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, help to pay for food and energy, as well as essential items, is available from the County Council’s connect4communities programme via the Citizens Advice Service and local community groups across Hampshire.
A connect4communities grant of £100,000 has been awarded to the Citizens Advice Service in Hampshire specifically to support families and people in need with energy costs.
“Hampshire County Council is doing fantastic work to support our local community through the connect4communities programme, and if you are struggling to pay for fuel to heat your home this programme is designed to provide the helping hand.”
Residents can find their nearest branch of Citizens Advice on the Service's website and, on the connect4communities online directory, search for local sources of other welfare support.
In addition to the help being made available through the Citizens Advice Service, the County Council is calling for community groups to apply for grants to help fund activities in their area that aim to combat food and fuel poverty by helping to build resilience in their communities. Community, voluntary and charity groups can apply for a Community Grant via the connect4communities.org website.
‘connect4communities’ is programme of support provided by Hampshire County Council, in collaboration with other agency, voluntary and charitable partners. It is funded by the Authority’s £2.89 million Covid Winter Grant from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
At least 80% of the total funding must go towards families with children, with up to 20% allocated for other households in need, including individuals such as young carers and care leavers. The ‘connect4communities’ scheme is being delivered across the county by a range of sources including schools and voluntary groups.