Millions of Britons have been advised to brace themselves for a cold snap this week which could result in thousands of people getting a £25 payment from the DWP.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice across southern England and South Wales, which will last from 3pm on Monday to 3am on Tuesday.
There is also a yellow cold health alert in place for the North East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East of England and London.
People in these areas could get a Cold Weather Payment as a result, which goes out to eligible households when temperatures drop below a certain level for an extended period of time.
The scheme, which is offered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), runs until March 31, and people are awarded £25 per seven days the average temperature in a person’s area falls to zero degrees or below.
The scheme sees subsidies paid out automatically to those eligible, based on a person’s benefits and the temperature in their area. With significantly high energy bills still adding pressure to Britons’ pockets, the payment provides vital support to struggling households in heating their homes.
Paul Maynard, who is the Minister for Pensions, said that the payments are designed to aleviate fears of not keeping up with bill payments during cold snaps.
Mr Maynard said: “Cold Weather Payments provide much needed support to households when colder weather kicks in, so that families reduce anxiety about bills.
“This is part of our wider plan to help those who need it the most, while our number one priority remains driving down inflation – and helping everyone’s money go further”.
But no cold weather payments have yet been triggered as of today (January 9). However, that could soon change as the DWP pointed out to the Manchester Evening News that the last payment was triggered as recently as December 8 2023.
Who is eligible for the Cold Weather Payment scheme?
To be eligible to receive a Cold Weather Payment, a person may be receiving the following benefits:
There are certain requirements with each benefit that entitle a person to receive payment, such as also having a disability or pensioner premium, or if they’re living with a child under five. To find out the full list of requirements with each benefit, people can visit the webpage.
Households can check if a payment is due in their area using the DWP’s Cold Weather Payment postcode checker.
While people living in Scotland are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments, they may be able to get an annual Winter Heating Payment instead.
This is worth £55.05 and will be automatically paid once a year in the middle of December through Social Security Scotland, to anyone who would qualify for a Cold Weather Payment.
Social Security Scotland said it expects to pay the majority of eligible people by the end of January 2024. Eligible recipients will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland before they make the payment.
How to claim the Cold Weather Payment
People who qualify for a Cold Weather Payment will not need to do anything. They will be paid automatically after each seven-day period of freezing weather.
This money should land in the person’s registered bank account with the DWP, and payments are made within 14 days.
If a person believes they should have received a Cold Weather Payment but hasn’t, the DWP recommends getting in touch with the Pension Centre or the Jobcentre – whichever is applicable.
Or, if a person receives Universal Credit, they should add a note to their journal online. The Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 9344 can also be used.
You can easily spot any cold weather payments that have been sent to your bank account by checking on your statements for transactions bearing certain features.
When the payment is made, you will see your National Insurance Number followed by ‘DWP CWP’ if you are living in England or Wales.
