Thousands of households are set to get Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) cold weather payments after new £25 payments were triggered. Ahead of this weekend’s snow storm, the DWP has revealed where where Cold Weather Payments have already been triggered.
The payments were activated yesterday in the following areas and postcodes: Eskdalemuir: DG14, TD9, Redesdale: CA9, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49 and Shap: CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23.
The energy support scheme – which is run by the DWP – provides cash payments of £25 to people living in England and Wales when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days. If the cold snap lasts longer, you do get more payments.
READ MORE All parts of England that WON’T see snow this weekend according to Met Office
Cold Weather Payments are issued between November and March each winter. The extra cash is designed to help cover the extra costs associated with cold weather – like the need to put on your heating. The payments are made automatically if you’re eligible and appear in your bank statement within 14 days of the cold snap.
To be eligible, households will need to claim one of several DWP benefits, which include Pension Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or Universal Credit. The payment will be labelled “DWP CWP” on your bank statement, and they will be made into the same bank or building society account where you receive your benefits.
It’s important to remember that these payments do not cover those living in Scotland. Households there receive a flat-out payment of £58.75 each winter, called the Winter Heating Payment. The first Cold Weather Payments were issued on November 21 this year. The first payments were triggered in 12 postcode areas in Cumbria, four in Northumberland, and two postcodes in the Scottish Borders, which also cover part of England.
You can use the Cold Weather Payment postcode checker on the DWP’s website to see if people in your area are due a payment.