£25 extra help for winter heating bills now available
Aneira Davies
Social and newsletter writerWith hundreds of households potentially eligible for the payment – which is given out during periods of very cold weather – here's how you can check
With more than 280 areas across the UK now experiencing such cold weather, many people will qualify for extra financial help towards their heating bills.
The help is on the way in the form of the DWP's Cold Weather Payments – a payout worth £25 for every seven days of very cold weather for households in England and Wales.
And areas including the North and North East are set to get payments within 14 days after the recent cold snap.
You can find out whether you and your household qualify for payments by doing this one simple check, that'll take just 10 seconds.
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How do I check if I can get a Cold Weather Payment?
With more than 280 postcodes across the country due a payment of £25 in the next few weeks, it's simple enough to check if your area qualifies.
You can check whether or not you should get a Cold Weather Payment through the government's website.
All you'll need to do is enter the first part of your postcode and the next page should show you how many Cold Weather Payments you're due, if any. It takes less than 10 seconds.
But, even if your area is due a payment, you have to be eligible in order to get it.
There's a full list of all the postcodes set to get the Cold Weather Payment soon here.
What are Cold Weather Payments?
The Cold Weather Payment is a cash boost of £25 for every seven days of cold weather a household experiences.
The payment is for families who claim benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
It's hoped that the £25 will help meet the extra costs of energy bills when the temperature drops to below a set temperature.
Eligible households will be able to get Cold Weather Payment for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2023 and 31 March 2024.
The payment will not affect your other benefits.
How cold does it have to get to get a payment?
Temperatures need to reach 0°C or below over seven days during the winter months for a household to be given a Cold Weather Payment.
The government website explains: 'You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below over 7 consecutive days.'
Who is eligible for the Cold Weather Payments?
You might be able to receive the Cold Weather Payment if you claim certain benefits.
These include:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
However, to get a Cold Weather Payment while claiming Universal Credit, you usually cannot be employed or self-employed. You must also meet one of the following criteria:
- You have a health condition or disability
- Have limited capability for work
- You have a child under 5 living with you
If you have a disabled child living with you, the rules are slightly different and it does not matter if you are employed or not.
You won't need to apply for Cold Weather Payments as they'll be given to you automatically.
What if I live in Scotland?
If you live in Scotland, you won't be able to get a Cold Weather Payment.
Instead, you could be eligible for the Winter Heating Payment from the Scottish Government instead.
This payment replaces the Cold Weather Payment and has the same eligibility requirements.
Unlike the Cold Weather Payment, the Winter Heating Payment does not depend on how cold the temperature gets.
The Winter Heating Payment is a yearly payment of £50 that’s paid automatically to eligible households.
When will I get the Cold Weather Payment?
Payments will be made within 14 working days after the period of very cold weather.
And, if the current temperatures persist, it could mean many more households will get a payment this side of Christmas.
How will it be paid?
Households due to get the cash to their accounts within 14 days should look out for a particular code on their bank statement.
The payment, which will be given automatically to those who are eligible, will appear on bank statements as your National Insurance number followed by the DWP code.
For those living in England or Wales, this code will be 'DWP CWP'.
And, if you live in Northern Ireland, it's 'SSA CWP'.
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