Pensioners, disabled people and other low income earners have received a winter bonus from the Treasury to keep warm this winter.

A lump sum, which is usually £300, is issued in January every year by the government and distributed to about 2,300 individuals who receive means-tested income support.

This annual payment helps them to meet higher heating bills during the coldest months of the year.

Ralph Peake MHK, a member of the Treasury with responsibility for social security, said: ’The winter bonus can make a real difference to people on low incomes who might otherwise find it difficult to heat their homes adequately during the colder months.

’People who are entitled to the winter bonus don’t need to claim it as it is paid to them automatically,’ he added.

The cost to government of providing the winter bonus is about £750,000 a year.

Around 50% of all winter bonus payments are paid to pensioners and the other half is paid mainly to those who are disabled or who have been incapacitated for work for over a year.

To qualify for the winter bonus, a person of state pension age must be entitled to income support at the beginning of January.

A person of working age must be entitled to income support at the beginning of January and must also have been entitled to the Christmas Bonus in the preceding month.

They must also be responsible for housing costs, for example: rent, mortgage interest and rates. However, this does not apply for severely disabled persons.

The winter bonus is normally paid at the rate of £300, but if a person shares responsibility for housing costs with another person or persons the payment is on a pro rata basis.

This extra support is not payable to people living in care homes, hotels, guest houses or other lodgings.