As winter begins to bite and the weather gets colder, there's extra help available for those claiming Universal Credit.
The Cold Weather Payment is a government subsidy paid out to help households pay their bills, during particularly cold weather.
In the UK 3.8 million people are eligible for it because they receive Universal Credit, Pension Credits and other schemes.
The scheme pays out an extra £25 a week to cover any extra energy bills - reports Mirror Online.
The benefit kicks in when temperatures fall to zero degrees or less for seven or more consecutive days.
Last winter it was triggered more than 30 times seeing more than £118 million paid out support across the UK.
Minister for family support, Justin Tomlinson said: "We are absolutely committed that the most vulnerable people get the support when they need it most and because of this more than £118 million was paid out last winter in Cold Weather payments earlier this year.
"It is important that people keep their homes warm during any cold snap, and cold weather and winter fuel payments enables them to do so. We also urge relatives of pensioners to check in on them regularly and make sure they are receiving the support they are entitled to."
If you do qualify, you'll get a £25 a week payment for every seven-day spell of cold weather you experience - with the money paid automatically within a fortnight.
You'll be eligible to claim Cold Weather Payment if you are getting one of the following;
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
