The DWP has activated Cold Weather Payments for 18 postcode areas across Northern England, with 6,000 households eligible to receive £25 each
The DWP has triggered the first Cold Weather Payments of the winter for residents in 18 postcode areas across England.
Eligible households in these locations, all located in northern regions, will receive an extra £25 to help with heating bills during the ongoing cold snap. The new payments have been triggered across 18 postcode zones, supporting a total of 6,000 households throughout Northern England, including parts of Cumbria, Northumberland and the Scottish borders.
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell said: “As temperatures plunge, Cold Weather Payments will automatically get support directly to vulnerable households. Combined with the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign and our Triple Lock commitment – set to increase the State Pension by up to £2,100 over this Parliament – we’re ensuring pensioners get the support they need this Winter.”
The full list of new postcodes receiving the payments triggered today is outlined below.
Cumbria and Northumberland
Scottish Borders
You can check payments for your postcode area on our interactive map here:
Cold Weather Payments are issued to people in England and Wales who receive various benefits. A similar scheme runs in Northern Ireland under comparable rules, whilst in Scotland the support for heating costs is delivered each winter and isn’t linked to specific cold weather periods.
In England and Wales, a payment is triggered when an area is forecast to experience average temperatures below zero for seven consecutive days. As we approach the New Year, weather experts are forecasting a spell of cold weather, with sub-zero temperatures expected in many regions.
Around 3.9 million people are eligible for Cold Weather Payments under the DWP scheme, and of these, 1.2 million are Pension Credit recipients.
The DWP indicates that 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.
However, not everyone receiving these benefits will automatically qualify for a Cold Weather Payment. Several factors determine whether a payment will be made, and full details of eligibility can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility.
Payments of £25 are directly deposited into recipients’ bank accounts within 14 working days, appearing with a payment reference that includes the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’. There is no need to apply for this payment.