THOUSANDS of households could be in line for free cash to put towards heating bills after a cold weather alert was triggered.
Those on certain benefits are eligible for Cold Weather Payments worth £25 when temperatures drop.
The payments are made for each seven day period where the temperature falls to zero degrees Celsius or below.
With the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office issuing health and cold weather warnings between now and January 8, it means thousands could be in line for a payment.
Plus, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed where where Cold Weather Payments have already been triggered.
The payments were activated yesterday in the following areas and postcodes:
If you qualify for a Cold Weather Payment, you should receive the cash in around three weeks.
Payments are made within 14 working days of each cold snap, into the same bank account you receive your qualifying benefit.
Cold Weather Payments are made between November 1 and March 31 each winter – a four month window when temperatures are usually coldest across the year.
You’re eligible for a Cold Weather Payment if you live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland and are in receipt of one of the following benefits:
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to meet one or more of the following additional criteria:
You can find out more about eligibility on the government’s website.
Households in Scotland aren’t eligible for Cold Weather Payments but get a Winter Heating Payment instead.
You can find out more via www.mygov.scot/winter-heating-payment.
Cold Weather Payments are issued automatically if you’re eligible, so you just have to sit tight and wait.
Payments show up in your bank statement as your National Insurance number followed by “DWP CWP” for those in England and Wales.
If you live in Northern Ireland it will appear as “SSA CWP”.
Contact the Pension Centre, Jobcentre Plus office, or the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 if you are expecting a payment and don’t receive one.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
If you go into hospital, this could affect your claim so make sure you tell someone using the contact details above.
You may be eligible for the Household Support Fund, which has been extended until the end of March this year.
Cash payments, energy and food vouchers and other help are distributed by local councils who set their own eligibility criteria.
That means whether you qualify for help depends on where you live although mostly help is given to low-income households or those on benefits.
Speak to your local council and check if you qualify for any support.
You might also be able to get a grant from your energy firm if you’ve fallen behind on your bills.
British Gas and Octopus Energy both have schemes that offer to pay you grants you don’t have to pay back.
Check if you qualify for benefits too – billions of pounds’ worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice.
It said £23billion went unclaimed in the 2023/24 financial year, with £8.3billion worth of Universal Credit not claimed for.
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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