From the beginning of November, if the temperature falls to 0 degrees Centigrade for an average of 7 days, certain recipients of benefits will be paid a Cold Weather Payment of £25. This is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions.

These payments can go to people who qualify for income support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related employment and support allowance or pension credit. The payments cover periods when the temperature is either recorded or is forecast to be at or below 0 degrees for 7 days. There is no need to apply for the payments because the payments are made automatically to those who qualify. However, anyone who thinks that they are entitled to the Cold Weather Payment can contact the Department for Work and Pensions to check.

The scheme runs through until 31st March each year.

There have been debates recently in the House of Commons about energy prices and their impact on people’s household budgets. There is a lot of pressure on family incomes so the aim is for consumers to get the best possible energy tariff, from an open and competitive energy market.

It should be simple and easy for people to switch energy companies to make sure they get the best deal, to keep bills as low as possible. Customers can look online at the switching sites to compare prices and the services available. The Government is working with the energy companies to reduce the time that it takes to switch between providers.

There have already been steps taken so that the energy companies have to make their bills more transparent, with information about the pricing structure and an estimate of the amount that the customer will pay annually.

From next spring, in 2014, the Government is ushering in an annual review – to be carried out by the regulator OFGEM, the Office for Fair Trading and the new Competition and Markets Authority – to look at a range of issues, such as price, profits, competition and how easy it is for consumers to obtain the best energy deal.