As the UK is hit with freezing temperatures, some households may be eligible for a special payment for cold weather.
If the mercury drops to 0°C or below for seven days in a row in a particular postcode, people living there could qualify for a payment of £25 to help with their heating costs.
This is separate to the Winter Fuel Payment, a benefit for pensioners which hit the headlines after Labour announced it would become means tested.
Low income households in England and Wales are eligible for Cold Weather Payments between November and March if the weather is particularly wintry.
With several parts of the UK facing yellow warnings for snow and ice, with amber warnings also in place over the weekend, it is possible the cold snap could last long enough to trigger the payments.
It is now possible to check whether your area will be included and see whether you are entitled to the money by visiting the website of the Department for Work and Pensions.
These Cold Weather Payments are made between November 1 and March 31 to people who receive a range of benefits across England and Wales.
They have not yet been issued this winter, but it is possible that the first payments could be made this month if the cold weather stays for seven days or longer.
The scheme links postcode districts to Met Office weather stations which report temperatures on a daily basis. Each postcode district is assigned to a weather station with the most similar climate in terms of 1981 to 2010 average winter temperature.
The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (CWP) scheme provides help to individuals on benefits who are the most vulnerable to the cold. This includes:
The payments are devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland and made separately.
The latest Cold Weather Payment postcodes are available via the Gov.uk postcode checker.
Those eligible will receive £25 for each seven-day period over the winter months between November 1 and March 31.
If you are eligible, the money will be paid directly into your bank account automatically.
The DWP has confirmed that households do not need to apply or take any action to ensure they get the money.
In the 2022 to 2023 winter season, an estimated £137.6m was paid out in the scheme.
An estimated 5.5million payments were made to around 3.7million people.
A version of this article was first published on November 18 2024.
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