The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has activated Cold Weather Payments in almost 250 postcode areas across England and Wales today. This decision coincides with the Met Office issuing multiple winter weather warnings for the upcoming week. More than half a million households will qualify for these payments, receiving £25 to assist with heating expenses.
The newly activated payments cover 246 postcode areas, including regions like Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland. The total cost of these payments is estimated at £13.3 million, with approximately 532,000 households set to benefit, notably 336,000 in Greater Manchester.
Cold Weather Payments are available to individuals in England and Wales who receive various benefits. In Northern Ireland, a similar scheme operates, while in Scotland, support for heating bills is provided annually, not tied to specific cold spells. This winter, payments have been triggered for 697 postcode areas, with some areas receiving two payments due to prolonged cold weather conditions.
To be eligible for Cold Weather Payments, individuals must receive benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest. The payments, totaling £25, are automatically deposited into recipients’ bank accounts within 14 working days, bearing a specific payment reference.
For England and Wales, payments are activated when an area is forecasted to experience average temperatures below zero for seven consecutive days. As the New Year approaches, forecasts indicate subzero temperatures in many regions. Approximately 3.9 million people are eligible for Cold Weather Payments under the DWP scheme, with 1.2 million receiving Pensions Credit.
Detailed eligibility criteria can be found on the GOV.UK website. It’s important to note that not all individuals receiving the aforementioned benefits will automatically receive Cold Weather Payments, as eligibility factors play a role.