A quick check could hand people who claim Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits a free £50. A postcode checker lays bare which and where postcodes in the country could be due as much as £50 in Cold Weather Payments.
When temperatures dip below 0C for seven consecutive days, eligible households within the affected postcodes receive a one-off payment of £25. In some cases, households may qualify for two consecutive Cold Weather Payments, leading to a £50 windfall.
Payments are made when your local temperature is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You’ll get a payment of £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
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You don’t need to apply for a cold weather payment – it’s paid automatically. However, if you don’t receive it, tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office. Pension Credit will usually get Cold Weather Payments and Income Support and Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance will usually get Cold Weather Payments and also if you have any of the following:
- A disability or pensions premium
- A child who is disabled
- Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- A child under 5 living with you
- had a baby (don’t forget to tell the Job Centre plus)
If on income-related employment and Support Allowance (ESA) then you’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments and also if you have any of the following:
- the support or work-related component of ESA
- a severe or enhanced disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- a child who is disabled
- Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- a child under 5 living with you
- had a baby (don’t forget to tell the Job Centre plus)
With Universal Credit, you’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you’re not employed or self-employed and one of the following apply
- you get a limited capability for work element (with or without a work related activity element)
- you get the disabled child element in your claim
- you have a child under 5 living with you
To check if you’re due a Cold Weather Payment, use the DWP’s postcode checker on GOV. UK.