Cold Weather Payments have been triggered for 18 postcode areas as snow blankets the UK.
These mark first round of payments of winter 2024/25, with estimations that around 10,000 people will receive one.
Cold Weather Payments of £25 are distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) per seven days the average temperature in a person’s area falls to zero degrees or below.
The first Cold Weather Payments have been triggered for 12 postcode areas in Cumbria, four in Northumberland, and two postcodes in the Scottish Borders which cross into England.
The twelve postcode areas in Cumbria to receive a payment include the Lakes, Kendal and Coniston, after freezing temperatures were recorded at the Shap weather centre. The payment was triggered on November 17.
The full list of postcode areas where eligible people will receive a Cold Weather Payment of £25 is:
- CA9 Leadgate, Cumbria
- CA10 Cliburn, Cumbria
- CA11 Catterlen, Cumbria
- CA12 Keswick, Cumbria
- CA16 Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria
- CA17 Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
- LA8 Kendal, Cumbria
- LA9 Kendal, Cumbria
- LA10 Sedbergh, Cumbria
- LA21 Coniston, Cumbria
- LA22 Lakes, Cumbria
- LA23 Windermere, Cumbria
- NE19 Elsdon, Northumberland
- NE47 Allendale, Northumberland
- NE48 Bellingham, Northumberland
- NE49 Haltwhistle, Northumberland
- TD9 Scottish Borders (parts in England)
- DG14 Dumfries border (parts in England).
Cold Weather Payments are made to people in England and Wales who receive a range of benefits. A separate scheme is operated in Northern Ireland along similar lines but in Scotland, the support for heating bills is not linked to specific spells of cold weather.
The DWP says those claiming the following benefits may be eligible for the Cold Weather Payment: Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Support for Mortgage Interest.
Not all those receiving these benefits will automatically receive a Cold Weather Payment. There are a number of factors which will determine whether a payment will be made and full details of those eligible are here.
The money will appear in bank statements within 14 days of each seven days of very cold weather between November 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
The payment reference will start with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’ for people in England and Wales.
Households can check if a payment is due in their area using the DWP’s Cold Weather Payment postcode checker.
The scheme runs across the winter period between November 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
