Millions of benefit recipients could be in line for a £25 payment because they live in areas where temperatures have fallen below freezing for seven days in a row.
The energy rebates, known as 'cold weather payments' are automatically issued to people who qualify due to their postcode and existing benefit status.
They amount to £25 per household and are triggered when the MET office records temperatures of 0C in a specific area.
The qualifying postcodes so far this winter are listed below - if you're eligible, the money will be paid into the account registered with your state benefit.
Cold Weather Payments are distributed in addition to pensioners' annual £200 Winter Fuel Allowance.
Baroness Stedman-Scott at the Department for Work and Pensions, said: "Keeping warm throughout the winter is hugely important to staying healthy, which is why we pay to help heat homes when there’s a sustained cold snap.
"As well as Cold Weather Payments, we also run the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Winter Fuel Payments, so we have a number of schemes in place to help."
Cold Weather postcode checker
If you're experiencing freezing weather in your area, check if you're owed money by entering your postcode here.
After each period of very cold weather, the eligible person should receive a payment within 14 working days.
If you're struggling with your bills, find out more on all of the energy discounts available to you, here.
How to claim a Cold Weather Payment
If you qualify for a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid automatically within 14 working days.
Contact your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but didn't.
The Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 9344 can also be used.
To find out if payments are in force in your area, click here.
If the temperature falls to 0 or less for a week or longer, you can get in touch with the DWP to make a claim.
Meanwhile, if you've had a power cut due to bad weather, here's how to get a refund.
Who qualifies for a Cold Weather Payment?
The scheme is offered to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit or certain employment benefits.
In addition, millions people aged 65 and over, also meet the criteria for winter fuel payments every year.
The average temperature in your area needs to have been 0˚C or less for seven consecutive days. You can check your area’s temperature by using the DWP’s cold weather payment postcode checker or our handy guide here.
Below is a list of the benefits you'll need to be in receipt of (read more on whether you qualify for benefits, here):
Pension Credit
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
Universal Credit
You can keep up to date on the weather on the Met Office's twitter page.
Postcodes that have been triggered this week
Braemar
AB35-36
PH10-11, PH18
Braemar
AB35-36
PH10-11, PH18
Redesdale
CA9
DH8
NE19, NE47-49
Aboyne
AB30-34
AB38
AB51-55
DD8-9
Aviemore
AB37
IV13
PH19-26
Loch Glascarnoch
IV4, IV6, IV7, IV14- IV16, IV23-24, IV63
Tulloch Bridge
FK20-21
PA33, PA36, PA40
PH8-9, PH15-17, PH30-35, PH37, PH49-50
Postcodes that have been triggered already this winter
You should receive the energy refund within two weeks.
Week ending 31 December
Tulloch Bridge
FK20-21
PA33, PA36, PA40
PH8-9, PH15-17, PH30-35, PH37, PH49-50
Aviemore
AB37
IV13
PH19-26
Braemar
AB35-36,
PH10-11, PH18
Loch Glascarnoch
IV4, IV6, IV7, IV14- IV16, IV23-24, IV63
Eskdalemuir
DG3-4, DG10-11, DG13-14
ML12
TD7, TD9
Salsburgh
EH43-46
G65, G67-68
ML1-3,ML6-11
Shap
CA10-12, CA16-17
LA8-10, LA21-23
Auchincruive
DG9
KA1-26, KA28-30
PA20
Week ending January 7
Achnagart
IV40-49, IV51-56
PH36, PH38-41
Aboyne AB30-34, AB38, AB51-55
DD8-9
Carlisle
CA1-8
DG12, DG16
Redesdale
CA9
DH8
NE19, NE47-49
Cassley
IV27-28
KW11, KW13
Tulloch Bridge
FK20-21
PA33, PA36, PA40
PH8-9, PH15-17, PH30-35, PH37, PH49-50
Bingley
BB4, BB8-12, BB18
BD1-22
HD3, HD7-9
HX1-7
LS21, LS29
OL13-14
S36
Edinburgh Gogarbank
EH1-42, EH47-49, EH51-55
FK1-7, FK9-10
KY3, KY11-12
Leek Thorncliffe
DE4, DE45
S32-33
SK13, SK17, SK22-23
ST9-10, ST13
Little Rissington
CV36
GL54-56
OX7, OX15-17
WR12
Rostherne
CW4, CW6-11
M1-9, M11-23, M25, M27-35, M38, M40-41, M43-46, M50, M90
PR7
SK1-12, SK14, SK16
WA1-16
WN1-8
Stonyhurst
BB1-3, BB5-7
LA2, LA6-7
PR6
Threave
DG1-2, DG5-8
Aboyne AB30-34, AB38, AB51-55
DD8-9
Aviemore
AB37
IV13
PH19-26
Braemar
AB35-36
PH10-11, PH18
Loch Glascarnoch
IV4, IV6, IV7, IV14- IV16, IV23-24, IV63
Eskdalemuir
DG3-4, DG10-11, DG13-14
ML12
TD7, TD9
Shap
CA10-12, CA16-17
LA8-10, LA21-23
Katesbridge
(NI) BT24 – 26
BT30 - 34
Week end January 14
Bainbridge
BD23-24
DL8, DL11-13
Lake Vyrnwy
LL20-21, LL23
SY10, SY15-17, SY19, SY21-22
Redesdale
CA9
DH8
NE19, NE47-49
Stathallen Airfield
FK8, FK11-19
G63
KY4-5, KY13-14
PH1-7, PH13
Machrihanish
KA27
PA28-29, PA41-49, PA60
Carlisle CA1-8
DG12, DG16
Little Rissington
CV36
GL54-56
OX7, OX15-17
WR12
Threave
DG1-2, DG5-8
Salsburgh
EH43-46
G65, G67-68
ML1-3, ML6-11
Auchincruive
DG9
KA1-26, KA28-30
PA20
Tredegar Bryn Bach Park
CF37-48, CF81-83
NP4, NP11-13, NP22-24, NP44
SA9
Eskdalemuir
DG3-4, DG10-11, DG13-14
ML12
TD7, TD9
Loch Glascarnoch
IV4, IV6, IV7, IV14- IV16, IV23-24, IV63
Shap CA10-12, CA16-17
LA8-10, LA21-23
Tullock Bridge
FK20-21
PA33, PA36, PA40
PH8-9, PH15-17, PH30-35, PH37
PH49-50
