THOUSANDS of hard-up households across the UK are due payments worth £25 to cover the cost of heating.
Cold weather payments are issued by the Government and to locations that experience continuous below-zero weather.
AlamyThousands of household are due cold weather payments as a cold snap hits the UK[/caption]
Households receive £25 for each seven-day period of low temperatures between November 1 and March 31 each year.
If you qualify, the cash is paid automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and you don’t need to apply.
The money is paid into your bank or building society account within 14 days of any triggered payments.
It appears in your statement as your National Insurance number, followed by “DWP CWP” for those in England and Wales.
Meanwhile, those living in Northern Ireland see the payment as “SSA CWP”.
Paul Maynard, pensions minister, 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.”
Recent frosty weather means a number of areas are set to see cold weather payments issued soon.
Below, we reveal the full list, and all the other areas that have had payments triggered since November 27 last year.
Remember, you can also check if your postcode is due a cold weather payment by using the Government’s checker tool on the NI Direct website.
November 27
Shap – CA10-12, CA16, CA17, LA8-LA10, LA21-LA23
November 28
Albermarle – DH1-DH7, DH9, DL4, DL5, DL14-DL17, NE1-NE13, NE15-NE18, NE20-NE46, SR1-SR7, TS21, TS28, TS29
Bainbridge – BD23, BD24, DL8, DL11-DL13
Bingley – BB4, BB8-BB12, BB18, BD1-22, HD3, HD7, HD8, HD9, HX1-HX7, LS21, LS29, OL13, OL14, S36
Carlisle – CA1-CA8, DG16
Fylingdales – YO13, YO18, YO21, YO22, YO62
Redesdale – CA9, DH8, NE19, NE47-NE49
Rochdale – BL0-BL9, M24, M26, OL1-OL12, OL15, OL16, SK15
Rostherne – CW4, CW6-CW11, M1-M9, M11-M23, M25, M27-M35, M38, M40, M41, M43-M46, M50, M90, PR7, SK1-SK12, SK14, SK16, WA1-WA16, WN1-WN8
Shawbury – SY1-SY6, SY11-SY13, TF1-TF13
December 5
Charterhall – NE71, TD9, TD12, TD15
Leek Thorncliffe – DE4, DE45, S32, S33, SK13, SK17, SK22, SK23, ST9, ST10, ST13
December 8
Shap – CA10-CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8-LA10, LA21-LA23
Below is the list of areas that have seen cold weather payments triggered since the start of the year.
If your postcode below is included and you qualify, that means you may not have received the £25 yet.
January 12
Redesdale – CA9, DH8, NE19, NE47-NE49
Shap – CA10-CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8-LA10, LA21-LA23
January 13
Albemarle – DH1-DH7, DH9, DL4, DL5, DL14-DL17, NE1-NE13, NE15-NE18, NE20, NE21, NE23, NE25-NE46, SR1-SR7, TS21, TS28, TS29
Bainbridge – BD23, BD24, DL8, DL11-DL13
Benson – HP5-HP23, HP27, OX9, OX10, OX33, OX39, OX44, OX49, RG9, SL7-SL9
Bingley – BB4, BB8-12, BB18, BD1-BD22, HD3, HD7-HD9, HX1-HX7, LS21, LS29, OL13, OL14, S36
Charterhall – NE71, TD12, TD15
Fylingdales – YO13, YO18, YO21, YO22, YO62
Leek Thorncliffe – DE4, DE45, S32, S33, SK13, SK17, SK22, SK23, ST9, ST10, ST13
Libanus – CF37-CF48, CF81-CF83, LD3, NP4, NP11-NP13, NP22-NP24, NP44, SA9
Marham – CB6, CB7, IP24-IP28, PE12-PE14, PE30-PE38
Who is eligible for cold weather payments?
Not everyone is entitled to cold weather payments – you have to be on certain benefits.
You may qualify for a payment if you receive one of the following:
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Support for Mortgage Interest
You may also need to meet one or more of the following additional criteria too:
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 on eligibility on the Government’s website.
Crucially, getting the cold weather payment won’t affect any other benefits you receive.
If you think you should have been issued a cold weather payment and haven’t been, you should contact your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office.
If you’re on Universal Credit, you can call the helpline on 0800 3284 5644, or sign into your online journal and add a note.
What other help is there?
If you’re not eligible for a cold weather payment you might be able to get help with your bills through other means.
The Household Support Fund is available to households in England, with the latest round of funding worth £842million.
Who qualifies for help varies depending on where you live as each council sets it own eligibility criteria.
However, in mostcases, help is offered to those on a low income or benefits.
Some councils are handing out energy and supermarket vouchers while others are transferring money directly into bank accounts.
You should get in touch with your local council to see what help is available.
You can find your nearest council by using the Government’s council locator tool online and entering your postcode.
You might also be able to get help paying for bills through a grant from your energy firm.
Companies such as British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF offer free money to households struggling to cover their bills.
But how much you can get and eligibility criteria varies from firm to firm. Get in touch with yours to see what help is on offer.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.