Temperatures are forecast to plunge below freezing across the UK next week, meaning some Brits could soon see some extra money land in their accounts from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The Cold Weather Payment scheme provides eligible households with financial support when the temperature drops to zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days. The scheme runs annually between November 1 and March 31, and people in receipt of certain means-tested benefits are eligible for the support. The payments, which are worth £25 per seven-day period, are made automatically.
Whenever there’s a cold period, people can check if their postcode is due a payment by using the Government tool.
The calculators vary by country, so it’s important for residents of England, Wales, or Northern Ireland to select the correct one. The money will appear in bank statements within 14 days of each seven days of very cold weather.
The payment reference will start with the customer’s National Insurance number, followed by ‘DWP CWP’ for people in England and Wales.
Scottish residents are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments. However, they might get an annual Winter Heating Payment instead. This scheme is Scotland’s version of the Winter Fuel Allowance, and can be worth up to £305.
To qualify for Cold Weather Payments, an individual must be receiving one of the following benefits:
There are specific requirements associated with each benefit that entitle a person to receive payment, such as having a disability or a pensioner premium, or if they’re living with a child under five.
To find out the full list of requirements for each benefit, people can visit the Government webpage.