People could be in for a cold weather payment, if the freezing conditions continue. Much of North Wales is under another weather warning for ice until midday today (Wednesday), with temperatures dropping below zero in parts overnight and the cold snap set to continue.
According to the UK Government: “You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.”
But to get the payment, you have to be eligible for it. Here is the full list of people who could get a cold weather payment:
You may get cold weather payments if you’re getting:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
If you live in Scotland, you cannot get cold weather payments. You might get an annual winter heating payment instead.
Pension Credit
You’ll usually get cold weather payments if you get Pension Credit.
A snowy scene near Abergele
(Image: North Wales Live)
Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
You’ll usually get cold weather payments if you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and have any of the following:
- a disability or 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
You’ll usually get cold weather payments if you get income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group. If you’re not in either group, you might also get cold weather payments if you have any of the following:
- 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
Universal Credit
You’ll usually get cold weather payments if you get Universal Credit and:
- you are not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’
- your partner is not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’ (if you have a partner)
You’re likely to be considered ‘gainfully self-employed’ if being self-employed is your main job, you work regularly and expect to make a profit.
One of the following must also apply:
- you or your partner have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)
- you have a child under 5 living with you
You’ll also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim. It does not matter whether you or your partner are employed, self-employed or not working.
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
You’ll usually get cold weather payments if you get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) and you’re treated as getting a qualifying benefit where one of the following applies:
- a severe or enhanced disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- you have a child who is disabled
- you get Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- you have a child under 5 living with you
You’re usually treated as getting a qualifying benefit if you apply for it but do not receive it because your income is too high. Also, you do not need to apply for cold weather payments, if you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically.
However, you do need to tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus if you go into hospital – this could affect your payment. If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account and add a note to your journal. If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit.
Use the postcode checker here, if you live in England and Wales, to see if your area is eligible for a payment.
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