STRUGGLING households across the country can get £25 a week in support when temperatures drop from today.
Those eligible get the cash for each seven-day period of incredibly cold weather between November 1 and March 31.
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But only specific types of benefits, including Pension Credit, qualify for the cash – known as cold weather payments.
The temperature must hit zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days for the sum to be paid out.
The scheme is designed to help those struggling heat their home and stay warm this winter.
People generally use more energy when temperatures dip as they need to turn their heating up, so any extra money can be useful.
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You might be eligible for the cold weather payment scheme if you receive of one of the following benefits and meet the criteria:
You may also need to meet one or more of these additional criteria:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
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Universal Credit claimants are eligible if they have a disabled child amount in their claim.
Getting the cold weather payment doesn’t affect any other benefits you get.
If you are in line for a payment you should receive it automatically within 14 days.
It will be paid into the same account where you get your benefit payments.
You might be able to get multiple payouts if the cold weather continues beyond seven days too.
Some areas have been paid as much as £75 in the past.
We rounded up the full list of postcodes that qualified for one £25 payment last winter.
Below we explain more about what the cold weather payment is and how eligible Brits can get the cash.
What is the cold weather payment?
The cold weather payment is dished out when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days.
When temperatures drop between November 1 and March 31, eligible Brits are entitled to extra money to heat their homes when this happens.
You get £25 for each seven-day period where the weather is below zero Celsius on average during this time frame.
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government’s tool on its website.
Cold weather payments are no longer paid in Scotland as the scheme has been replaced.
Instead, you might get an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment. You can find out more about the scheme on the Scottish Government’s website.
How do I apply for the cold weather payment?
You do not need to apply to the scheme, as cash is automatically sent within a two working weeks to anyone eligible.
If you don’t receive a payment but believe you’re eligible, contact your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office.
Alterively, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
When temperatures plummet, you can check if your area is due a cold weather payment by typing your postcode into the government’s tool on its website.
What other help is available?
There is other help out there if you are not eligible for the cold weather payments.
For example, you could be entitled to a cost of living payment of up to £1,350.
This year and into 2024 the government is handing out payments to millions of people.
Individually the payments are worth £900, £300 and £150.
Some people may be eligible for all three which means a total of £1,350.
The £900 Cost of Living payment has been split into three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299.
The second instalment of £300 started being dished out from October 31.
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A separate £300 pensioner CoL payment will follow from November, but an exact date is yet to be announced.
Plus the £150 Warm Home Discount started being applied from October 16.
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