THOUSANDS of households in more than 70 postcodes are due payments of up to £50 to assist with heating costs as the cold snap continues.
The free cash, known as the cold weather payment, is issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
[iframe src=”https%3A%2F%2Fdatawrapper.dwcdn.net%2FBFQ9S%2F1%2F” height=”565″ /] [iframe src=”https%3A%2F%2Fdatawrapper.dwcdn.net%2FwKEca%2F1%2F” height=”431″ /]Eligible individuals receive £25 for each seven-day stretch of low temperatures, with these payments available until 31 March.
The funds are deposited directly into bank accounts within 14 days of a postcode being triggered.
Payments are made automatically, so there’s no need to apply.
At the moment, 18 postcodes are eligible for two £25 payments worth £50 in total.
A further 59 postcodes are now eligible for a single payment.
Further cold weather could lead to additional payments in other areas, and there is no maximum limit to the amount you can receive.
Last winter, almost 500 postcodes got payments worth up to £75.
You can also check if you are due a cold weather payment in the future by visiting coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk or nidirect.gov.uk/articles/cold-weather-payment if you live in Northern Ireland.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6345562212112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Who is eligible for cold weather payments?
Households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are eligible for cold weather payments.
Households in Scotland aren’t but get a Winter Heating Payment instead. More information can be found at www.mygov.scot/winter-heating-payment.
You usually qualify for a cold weather payment once temperatures have dropped and if you’re on certain benefits. These are:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
You can also get the payments if you receive support for mortgage interest.
However, depending on each benefit, there are other criteria you might have to fulfil to be eligible.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D102383%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]For example, if you’re on Universal Credit you will only qualify if you are unemployed or “gainfully self-employed”, or your partner is unemployed or “gainfully self-employed”.
You are considered gainfully self-employed if you work regularly and expect to make a profit.
One of the following must also apply:
- You or your partner have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)
- You have a child under five living with you
You are also eligible if you have a disabled child amount included in your Universal Credit claim.
There are also other eligibility criteria attached if you claim Income Support and income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) or get support for mortgage interest (SMI).
If you have a baby or a child under five living with you, you will need to tell your local Jobcentre Plus.
You’ll also need to let them know if you get income support, JSA or ESA.
You won’t get cold weather payments automatically if you don’t.
Find out more by visiting gov.uk/cold-weather-payment.
When and how are payments made?
Payments are typically made within 14 working days of your postcode being activated.
The cash is paid directly into the same bank or building society account where you receive your benefits.
Tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus if you don’t receive a payment and think you should have.
Call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469 or find your nearest Jobcentre by visiting find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/.
If you’re on Universal Credit, you can log in to your account and add a note to your journal.