THOUSANDS of hard-up households in 280 postcodes are due up to £25 in cold weather payments.
Cold weather payments are made in locations where residents experience continuous below-zero weather.
The Mega AgencyLast year, some areas which experienced extended periods of freezing temperatures saw two £25 payouts triggered – meaning households received £50 in free cash[/caption]
Households can get £25 during each seven-day period of low temperatures from now until March 31.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hands out the extra cash to households on low-incomes.
Those eligible will have the cash paid directly into their bank accounts within 14 days.
The payment is made automatically, including to those on Universal Credit and pension credit.
Commenting on the triggering of the scheme this week, Paul Maynard, Minister for Pensions 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.”
We’ve listed all the postcodes that are now eligible for one cold weather payment worth £25.
You can also check if a payment is due in your area by entering your postcode in the government’s cold weather payment checker.
Full list of eligible postcodes triggered since November 27:
Blackburn – BB4, BB8-12, BB18
Bolton – BL0-9
Bradford – BD1-24
Carlisle – CA1-12, CA16-CA17
Cleveland – TS21, TS28-29
Crewe – CW4, CW6-11
Darlington – DL4-5, DL8, DL11-17
Dumfries and Galloway – DG16
Durham – DH1–9
Halifax – HX1-7
Huddersfield – HD3, HD7-9
Lancaster – LA8-LA10, LA21-LA23
Leeds – LS21, LS29
Manchester – M1-9, M11-35, M38, M4-46, M50, M90
Newcastle upon Tyne – NE1-13, NE15-21, NE23, NE25-49
Oldham – OL1-16
Preston – PR7
Sheffield – S36
Shrewsbury – SY1-6, SY11-13
Stockport – SK1-12, SK14-16
Sunderland – SR1-7
Telford – TF1-13
Warrington – WA1-16
Wigan – WN1-8
Yorkshire – YO13, YO18, YO21-22, YO62
Who is eligible for cold weather payments?
Households are eligible for the extra cash if they are getting the following:
Universal Credit
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
Income-related employment and support allowance
Support for mortgage interest
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to meet one or more of the following 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
You can find out more about eligibility on the government’s website.
Getting the cold weather payment doesn’t affect any other benefits you get.
If you’re eligible, you should get the payments automatically within 14 days, into the same account where you get your benefit payments.
But if you think you should get the payment and haven’t, then contact your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office, or 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.