UK households could be in line for a payout of up to £50 due to the recent spate of chilly weather. Those claiming certain benefits are entitled to extra funds during cold spells to assist with heating costs.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) runs its Cold Weather Payment scheme each year from November through to March. When temperatures drop below 0C for seven consecutive days, eligible households within the affected postcodes will receive a one-off payment of £25.
However, some households may qualify for two consecutive Cold Weather Payments, leading to a £50 windfall. The first Cold Weather Payments of the year have now been triggered following a dip in UK temperatures.
These payments are activated if temperatures are either recorded or forecasted to be 0C or below for a full week. According to the DWP, 18 postcode areas in England are due payments for the period from January 2 to January 9.
Which benefits are eligible for the Cold Weather Payment
A range of benefits could make you eligible for the Cold Weather Payment:
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Support for mortgage interest
- Income support
- Pension Credit
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
You must also reside in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, as Scottish residents do not qualify for Cold Weather Payments. Even if you’re receiving some of these benefits, there may be additional criteria that need to be met, full details of which can be found on GOV. UK.
To check if your postcode is eligible for a payment, you can utilise the DWP’s postcode checker on GOV. UK. Scottish postcodes are not part of the Cold Weather Payment scheme.
However, some regions of the Scottish Borders that technically fall under England despite having a Scottish postcode are eligible for payments.
The full list of postcodes
TD9, DG14, NE19, NE48, NE49, NE47, CA9, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23