Households in the UK have been urged to check their bank accounts for a special payment from the Department for Work and Pensions in the next week. The payments relate to the weather.
Each year during the winter period, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can issue special payments if the temperature becomes very cold for a set period. These are known as Cold Weather Payments and are worth £25.
Eligible households are those currently in receipt of benefits such as Pension Credit and Universal Credit, meaning thousands of households could receive money. Cold Weather Payments are issued when the average temperature is recorded as – or forecasted to be – 0C or below for seven consecutive days.
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For each seven-day period of very cold weather, a £25 payment is made. Cold Weather Payments can only be paid out between November 1 and March 31.
With the weather turning colder this week, it could mean households receive the special payment. The Met Office has issued a three-day weather warning for snow from Saturday to Monday.
However other forecasters have predicted snow falling on Tuesday, while temperatures are set to fall later next week below 0C. Households have been advised they do not need to apply for Cold Weather Payments – find out more here.
Eligible households will be paid automatically. Benefits which qualify for Cold Weather Payments are: Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit.