AS the UK braces itself for a freezing winter, hard-up households are getting £25 off their energy bill.
Temperatures are quickly approaching below zero and Brits have been warned to turn their heating on when they can to keep warm.
Eligible households could get £25 as a cold weather paymentPA
Health officials issued a red weather warning too, meaning vulnerable people could be more at risk with the extreme temperatures.
The cold weather has triggered the £25 cold weather payment in hundreds of postcodes, giving you extra cash to heat your home.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hands out the extra £25 to certain households struggling to pay their energy bills.
The scheme is designed to help people on low incomes with their energy bills when the temperature gets very low.
You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below over seven consecutive days.
Payments are made automatically – you don’t need to apply.
Last year, some areas which experienced extended periods of freezing temperatures received multiple payouts, adding up to as much as £75.
For each seven-day period of low temperatures, the payment is worth £25 and if you get certain benefits you should get the cash automatically.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from 1 November 2022 to 31 March 2023.
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, SN7Carlise – CA1-8, DG12, DG16Charlwood – BN5-6, BN44, GU5-6, ME6, ME14-20, RH1-20, TN1-20, TN22, TN27Coleshill – B1-21, B23-38, B40, B42-50, B60-80, B90-98, CV1-12, CV21-23, CV31-35, CV3 CV47, DY1-14, LE10, WS1-15, WV1-16Exeter Airport – EX1-12, EX24, TQ1-6, TQ9, TQ12, TQ14Fylingdales – YO13, YO18, YO21-22, YO62Hawarden Airport – CH1-8, LL11-14, SY14Hereford – GL1-6, GL10, GL14-20, GL50-53, HR1-9, NP7-8, NP15, NP25, SY8, WR1-11, WR13-15Hurn – 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, SY21-22Leek 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, SA9Little Rissington – CV36, GL54-56, OX7, OX15-17, WR12Llysdinam – LD1-2, LD4-8, SA19-20, SY7, SY9, SY18Marham – CB6-7, IP24-28, PE12-14, PE30-38Nottingham – 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, NE47-49Rochdale – 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, TF1-13Stonyhurst – BB1-3, BB5-7, LA2, LA6-7, PR6Stowe – NN1-7 NN11-13, MK18Tibenham – NR1-35Trawsgoed – LL35-40, SY20, SY23-25Walney 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
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government’s tool.
Who is eligible for cold weather payments?
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.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.