As the cold weather blankets many parts of the UK with snow and plunging temperatures, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has triggered the first cold weather payments of 2024 to support qualifying households. This one-off payment of £25 is issued for every seven-day period where the temperature in your area is at or below zero degrees.
Approximately 10,000 people across 18 postcode areas are eligible for the payment, with 12 areas in Cumbria, four in Northumberland, and two crossing the Scottish and English border.
To check if you qualify for the cold weather payment, you must receive one of the following benefits:
– Pension Credit
– Income Support
– Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
– Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
– Universal Credit
– Support for Mortgage Interest
Additionally, you must reside in an area that has experienced seven consecutive days of zero or sub-zero temperatures. The government provides a tool to check if your postcode is in a qualifying area, and you can appeal if you disagree with their assessment.
The payment is automatically deposited into the same bank account where you receive benefit payments within 14 working days of the cold period. If you believe you are eligible but have not received the payment, contact the DWP for assistance.
It is important to note that residents in Scotland are not eligible for this scheme, as the Scottish government has replaced it with Winter Heating Payments.
Here is the list of postcode areas eligible for cold weather payments in 2024:
– 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 (parts on English side of border)
– DG14 (parts on English side of border)
