Northern Ireland Finance Minister announces new one-off heating payment as part of further COVID-19-related funding allocations

New payment of £200 will be automatically paid at the end of January 2021 to disabled people on higher rate disability benefits and people in receipt of pension credit

The Northern Ireland Finance Minister Mr Conor Murphy has announced a new one-off heating payment as part of further coronavirus (COVID-19)-related funding allocations.

Announcing the new funding package in a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly today, Mr Murphy said -

‘Just over two weeks ago the Treasury provided a further £400 million to the Executive to support our response to COVID-19. I requested urgent proposals from Executive colleagues to use this funding to support businesses, public services, and vulnerable people. Some members have questioned why this funding wasn’t dispersed immediately. Had we as an Executive allocated this funding immediately, we wouldn’t have been able to take into account the new restrictions agreed by the Executive last week.’

As part of the £300 million package, Mr Murphy outlined a new winter grant to support vulnerable claimants -

‘... £44.3 million to enable a one-off heating payment of £200 to disabled people on higher rate allowances and older people in receipt of pension credit. This recognises the additional cost imposed on these vulnerable groups by the COVID-19 pandemic.’

Providing more details on the new payment, Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said today -

'The COVID-19 Heating Payment will be made to people in receipt of pension credit, as well as those receiving the highest rates of attendance allowance, personal independence payment and disability living allowance including children.

To have the greatest impact, my Department plans to make the COVID-19 Heating Payment at the end of January 2021. This will ensure funding is provided during the challenging winter period and at a time that additional heating costs are likely to be highest.

The payment will be made automatically to each recipient without the need for an application.'

NB - Mr Murphy also confirmed that £213 million has been allocated towards supporting businesses, of which £95 million will fund a High Street Voucher Scheme that will give people a pre-paid card for use on the high street. In addition, the Department for Education will receive more than £26 million, that includes money to provide food grants during school holidays to those eligible for free school meals, and local councils will receive £10 million to ensure that they can continue to deliver services.

For more information, see Murphy announces £300 million support package from ni.gov.uk