Payments could be issued to homes hit by the upcoming blast of cold winter weather in the UK. Snow is forecast in the UK, the Met Office says, and a cold weather health alert has been issued for all of England ahead of a week of low temperatures.
The winter season often sees a surge in expenses for many households. As temperatures drop, the instinctive response is to crank up the thermostat, leading to an inevitable increase in energy bills.
However, relief may be on the horizon for low-income households struggling with high energy costs.
A special payment of £25 could soon be distributed to thousands of UK households as wintry weather approaches.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides Cold Weather Payments during periods of particularly cold weather.
These payments are triggered when the average temperature in a household’s area is recorded or forecasted to be 0C or below for seven consecutive days.
With snow predicted for several days starting this Saturday, the January cold snap could trigger these Cold Weather Payments. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather alert spanning three days, commencing at midday on Saturday, January 4.
This alert will remain active until 9am on Monday, January 6. Further snowfall is expected on Tuesday, with a significant snow mass anticipated to cover large parts of England, reports BirminghamLive.
The Met Office forecasts colder conditions at the start of the year, stating that the unsettled period from New Year will “yield to colder conditions” with air from the “north flowing across the UK”.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released cold weather health alerts for all of England ahead of a week of low temperatures.
Amber alerts have been issued from 12pm on Thursday until January 8. That means a rise in deaths – particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions – is likely, the UKHSA said.
Temperatures could drop to as low as minus 8C on Thursday night in rural southern Scotland and northern England, the Met Office said. It will also be cold in rural Wales and the south west of England – with minus 6C expected.
To be eligible for Cold Weather Payments, households must be on benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit.
A £25 payment will be made for every period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31.
Households have been advised they do not need to apply for Cold Weather Payments as they’ll be paid automatically if eligible.
