The UK has been hit with freezing temperatures this week, with snow showers in parts of the country.
An amber weather warning has been issued for Thursday, with some UK regions expected to say as much as 25cm of snowfall.
Some people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are entitled to payments when the temperature drops below zero for consecutive days.
Over 1.4 million Cold Weather Payments worth £35m were issued last winter.
Here’s all you need to know about the Cold Weather Payments — and whether you’re eligible.
What are Cold Weather Payments?
Cold Weather Payments are automatic payments given to qualifying households during particularly cold spells to help with fuel and bills.
The payments are administered by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Who is eligible for Cold Weather Payments?
Individuals who claim the following benefits may be eligible for Cold Weather Payments:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Hospital stays can impact your eligibility, so individuals are advised to inform the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus if they become an inpatient.
People are also advised to tell the relevant service if they have a baby or a child under five lives in the household.
What constitutes “cold weather”?
Payments are given to eligible households when the temperature is recorded or forecasted to be zero degrees celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
How much is the payment?
Eligible recipients get £25 for each seven day period of cold weather from the start of November to the end of March.
The payment is directly deposited into the same bank or building society account as recipients’ benefit payments, within 14 working days following each period of cold weather.
People who suspect that they should be receiving a payment but haven’t are advised to get in touch with the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
Alternatively, individuals can log on to Universal Credit and leave a note in their journal, or call the Universal Credit helpline.
In Scotland, the winter heating payment is worth £59.75.
