To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will assess the appropriateness of the threshold for cold weather payments in respect of those diagnosed with certain medical conditions or taking certain medications whose conditions may be exacerbated by cold weather conditions. (279126)

Cold weather payments help vulnerable groups on low incomes with the extra heating costs which result from periods of very cold weather that last, or are forecast to last, for seven days.

They are paid to people awarded pension credit or income-related employment and support allowance that includes a work-related activity or support component when the temperature criteria is met for their area. Those awarded income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance or income-related employment and support allowance in the assessment phase, and who have a pensioner or disability premium or have a child who is disabled or under the age of five are also eligible to receive payments.

There are no plans at the present time to change the qualifying criteria for cold weather payments.