Cold weather triggers £25 payments for 673,000 in Bradford and other UK areas amid freezing temperatures
Cold Weather Payments Begin in England and Wales
Across Britain, people are increasing their heating to combat the cold weather, which is raising bills. Plummeting temperatures have led to the first cold weather payments of the winter in England and Wales as an Arctic blast freezes the UK.
If temperatures drop to 0°C or below for seven consecutive days in a specific postcode, residents may qualify for a £25 payment to assist with heating costs. Approximately 673,000 eligible individuals will receive this government payment in areas that met the threshold during the week ending January 2, totaling £16.8 million.
This payment is distinct from the Winter Fuel Payment, which is a benefit for pensioners to help with heating bills. It is also in addition to any Cost of Living payments or other government benefits. Low-income households in England and Wales can receive Cold Weather Payments from November to March if the weather is particularly cold.
Cold Weather Payment Details
So far, cold weather payments have been activated on five separate days: December 30, January 1, January 2, January 3, and January 6. A total of 17 out of the Met Office’s 71 weather stations triggered the payment during the week ending January 2.
A weather station in Bingley near Bradford in West Yorkshire triggered 105,000 payments, while one in Rothamsted at Harpenden in Hertfordshire created 73,000 payments. With several areas of the UK under yellow and amber warnings for snow and ice this week, it is possible that the cold snap could last long enough to trigger more payments.
To find out if your area is included and if you are entitled to the payment, visit the Department for Work and Pensions website. Cold Weather Payments are made from November 1 to March 31 to individuals receiving various benefits across England and Wales.
Eligibility for Cold Weather Payments
The scheme connects postcode districts to Met Office weather stations that report daily temperatures. Each postcode district is linked to a weather station with a similar climate based on average winter temperatures from 1981 to 2010.
The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (CWP) scheme assists individuals on benefits who are most vulnerable to the cold. This includes:
| Eligibility Criteria |
|---|
| Income Support |
| Pension Credit recipients |
| Homeowners receiving Support for Mortgage Interest with specific conditions |
| Disabled adults and families with disabled children or children under 5 on Universal Credit |
| Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance |
| Income-related Employment and Support Allowance |
The payments are managed separately in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The latest Cold Weather Payment postcodes can be found using the Gov.uk postcode checker. Eligible individuals will receive £25 for each seven-day period during the winter months between November 1 and March 31.
If eligible, the payment will be automatically deposited into your bank account. The DWP has confirmed that households do not need to apply or take any action to receive the funds.
In the 2022 to 2023 winter season, an estimated 5.5 million payments were made to around 3.7 million people, totaling approximately £137.6 million. This winter, about 4.4 million people in England and Wales are eligible for cold weather payments, including 1.2 million recipients of pension credit.
