THOUSANDS of hard-up families are due free cash worth £25 as temperatures have dropped below zero.
Eligible families can get the cold weather payment directly into their bank accounts right now, but not everyone knows who can get it.
GettyPeople are only just realising that they can get £25 free cash this winter[/caption]
Facebook users have posted on the platform asking if they’re entitled to the money and how they’ll get it.
The money can help hard-up households against rising energy costs as they battle the freezing cold weather.
The payment is made automatically, including to those on Universal Credit.
Cold weather payments are made in locations where residents experience continuous below-zero weather.
Households can get £25 during each seven-day period of low temperatures from now until March 31.
But some people don’t know that certain benefits qualify you for the payment.
One woman posted in Facebook group Cost Of Living UK asking for clarification on the payment.
She said: “Hi there. I am little confused I check my post code and I am entitled for cold weather payment.
“Can anyone enlighten me how do we get it or how it will be payed and when?”
The post was met with over 150 comments from people asking if they can get the £25 and explaining how it works.
One commented: “So if you’re only on universal credit we don’t get is that right plz?”
Another said: “It’s like getting blood from a stone! Just says it’s paid automatically if you qualify.
“I’ve tried all routes to get the info and they all say the same thing or nothing at all.”
While one man said: “How do i check if I’m due any?”
Below we explain who is eligible for the payment, how you’ll get it and which postcodes have been triggered so far.
Who is eligible for cold weather payments?
People will have the payment credited to their bank account within 14 days of their postcode becoming eligible.
Households are eligible for the extra cash if they are getting the following:
Pension CreditUniversal CreditIncome Supportincome-based jobseeker’s allowanceincome-related employment and support allowanceSupport 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 premiumHave a child who is disabledBe in receipt of child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability elementHave a severe or enhanced disability premiumBe in receipt of a limited capability for work amountHave 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.
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.
Postcodes eligible for £25 cold weather payment
Here’s the full list of postcodes that have qualified for a £25 payment over the 2022-23 winter period so far.
Albemarie – DH1-7, DH9, DL4-5, DL14-17, NE1-13, NE15-18, NE20-21, NE23, NE25-46, SR1-7, TS21, TS28-29Almondsbury – BS1-11, BS13-16, BS20-24, BS29-32, BS34-37, BS39-41, BS48-49, GL11-13, NP16, NP26Andrewsfield – CB1-5, CB10-11, CB21-25, CM1-9, CM11-24, CM77, CO9, RM4, SG8-11Bainbridge – BD23-24, DL8, DL11-13Benson – HP5-23, HP27, OX9,OX10,OX33, OX39,OX44, OX49, RG9, SL7-9Bingley – BB4, BB8-12, BB18, BD1-22, HD3, HD7-9, HX1-7, LS21, LS29, OL13-14, S36Boscombe Down -BA12, RG28, SO20-23,SP1-5, SP7, SP9-11Bramham – HG1–5, LS1-20, LS22-28, YO1, YO8, YO10, YO19, YO23-24, YO26, YO30-32, YO41-43, YO51, YO60-61Brize Norton – OX1-6, OX8, OX11-14, OX18, OX20, OX25-29, SN7Capel Curig – LL24-25, LL41.Carlise – CA1-8, DG12, DG16Charlwood – BN5-6, BN44, GU5-6, ME6, ME14-20, RH1-20, TN1-20, TN22, TN27Charterhall – NE71.Chivenor – EX23, EX31-34, EX39.Coleshill – B1-21, B23-38, B40, B42-50, B60-80, B90-98, CV1-12, CV21-23, CV31-35, CV3 CV47, DY1-14, LE10, WS1-15, WV1-16Dunkeswell Aerodrome – DT6-8, EX13-15, TA21.Exeter Airport – EX1-12, EX24, TQ1-6, TQ9, TQ12, TQ14Fylingdales – YO13, YO18, YO21-22, YO62Hawarden Airport – CH1-8, LL11-14, SY14Heathrow – BR1-4, CR0, CR2-9,E1-18, E20, E1W, EC1-4, EN1- 5, EN7-11, HA0-9, IG1-11, KT1-24, N1-22, NW1-11, SE1-28, SL0, SL3, SM1-7, SW1-20, TW1-20, UB1-11, W1-14, WC1-2, WD 1-2.Hereford – GL1-6, GL10, GL14-20, GL50-53, HR1-9, NP7-8, NP15, NP25, SY8, WR1-11, WR13-15Herstmonceux – BN7-8, BN20-24, BN26-27, TN21, TN31-40.Hurn – BH1-25, BH31, DT1-2, DT11, SP6Keele – CW1-3, CW5, CW 12, ST1-8, ST11-12, ST14-21Lake Vrnwy – LL20-21, LL23, SY10, SY15-17, SY19, SY21-22Leconfield – DN14, HU1-20, YO11-12, YO14-17, YO25.Leek Thorncliffe – DE4, DE45, S32-33, SK13, SK17, SK22-23, ST9-10, ST13Leeming – DL1-DL3, DL6,DL7, DL9, DL10, TS9, S16 YO7Libanus – NP4, NP11-13, NP22-24, NP44, SA9Liscombe – EX16, EX35-36, TA22, TA24.Little Rissington – CV36, GL54-56, OX7, OX15-17, WR12Llysdinam – LD1-2, LD4-8, SA19-20, SY7, SY9, SY18Marham – CB6-7, IP24-28, PE12-14, PE30-38Morpeth, Cockle Park – NE22, NE24, NE61-70.Nottingham – CV13, DE1-3, DE5-7, DE11-15, DE21-24, DE55-56, DE65, DE72-75, LE1-9, LE11-14, LE16-19, LE65, LE67, NG1-22, NG25, NG31-34Odiham – GU1-4, GU7-35, GU46-47, GU51-52, RG1-2, RG4-8, RG10, RG12, RG14, RG18-27, RG29-31, RG40-42, RG45, SL1-2, SL4-6, SO24Pembury Sands – SA1-8, SA14-18, SA31-34, SA61-63, SA66-73Redesdale – CA9, DH8, NE19, NE47-49Rhyl – LL15-19, LL22, LL26-32Rochdale – L0-9, M24, M26, OL1-12, OL15-16,SK15Rostherne – CW4, CW6-11, M1-9, M11-23, M25, M27-35, M38, M40-41, M43-46, M50, M90, PR7, SK1-12, SK14, SK16, WA1-16, WN1-8Rothamsted – AL1-10, EN6, HP1-4, LU1-7, SG1-4, SG12-14, WD3-7, WD17-19, WD23-25Shap – CA10-12, CA16-17, LA8-10, LA21-23Shawbury – SY1-6, SY11-13, TF1-13Sheffield – DN1–8, DN11-12,HD1-2, HD4-6, S1-14, S17-18, S20-21, S25-26, S35, S40-45, S60-66, S70-75, S80-81, WF1-17.Stonyhurst – BB1-3, BB5-7, LA2, LA6-7, PR6Stowe – NN1-7 NN11-13, MK18Tibenham – NR1-35Trawsgoed – LL35-40, SY20, SY23-25Waddington – DN9-10, DN13, DN15-22, DN31-41, LN1-13, NG23-24, PE10-11, PE20-25.Walney Island – LA1, LA3-5, LA11-20Wattisham – CB8-9, CO1-8, CO10-16, IP1-23, IP29-33Westonbirt – BA1-3, BA11, BA13-15, GL7-9, RG17, SN1-6, SN8-16, SN25-26Wittering – LE15, NN14-18, PE1-9, PE15-17, PE26-29Woburn – MK1-17, MK19, MK40-46, NN8-10, NN29, PE19, SG5-7, SG15-19Yeovilton – BA4-10, BA16, BA20-22, BS25-28, DT9-10, SP8, TA1-20, TA23
Meanwhile, thousands of households are due to get double cold weather payments as the cold snap drags on.
Those in areas including Bath, Bradford, Bristol, Manchester and Swansea, will get two.
This is because cold weather payments have been triggered twice in 286 postcodes so far – meaning thousands are due two payments of £25.
We’ve rounded up the full list of postcodes who can get double payments so far this year.
Last year, some areas which experienced extended periods of freezing temperatures and households received three £25 payouts, adding up to £75.
This was because there were three seven-day periods of below-zero temperatures.