Key Takeaways
- The UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that 441 postcode areas will receive Cold Weather Payments due to the cold temperatures.
- The payments are triggered when temperatures are forecast to be, or drop below, 0C for seven consecutive days.
- Eligible households will receive £25 towards the cost of heating their homes.
- The payments are made automatically to people on certain benefits, including Pension Credit, Income Support, and Universal Credit.
- The DWP has confirmed that an estimated 674,000 households will be eligible for the payments.
Introduction to Cold Weather Payments
The UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an update on Cold Weather Payments, which are made to eligible households when temperatures are forecast to be, or drop below, 0C for seven consecutive days. The payments are an automatic bank top-up of £25, triggered by the average temperature recorded at a weather station linked to an eligible person’s postcode. The DWP has announced that 441 postcode areas will receive the payments, with an estimated 674,000 households eligible.
Eligibility for Cold Weather Payments
To be eligible for Cold Weather Payments, households must receive certain benefits, including Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, and Support for Mortgage Interest. The payments are made automatically into a recipient’s bank account and will land in accounts within 14 days of the payment being triggered. The DWP has confirmed that the payments will be made to people in England and Wales who meet the eligibility criteria.
Postcode Areas Receiving Payments
The DWP has released a list of postcode areas that will receive the payments, which can be checked on an interactive map. The list includes areas in England and Wales, with large parts of the South East of England, South Wales, and Yorkshire receiving the payments. Households in some parts of Lancashire, West Yorkshire, and the Peak District will also receive the payments. The DWP has confirmed that no areas of Greater Manchester are included in the latest round of payments.
Weather Forecast and Payment Triggers
The Met Office has issued a warning for snow in certain parts of Britain, with up to 15 inches of snow forecast in some areas. The weather body has also issued a yellow weather warning for snow in Greater Manchester from 3pm on Sunday, January 4. The DWP has confirmed that the payments are triggered by the average temperature recorded at a weather station linked to an eligible person’s postcode. The payments are made automatically when the temperature is forecast to be, or drops below, 0C for seven consecutive days.
Government Support for Vulnerable Households
The DWP has confirmed that the Cold Weather Payments are part of the government’s efforts to support vulnerable households during the winter months. Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell has stated that the payments will automatically get support directly to vulnerable households. The government has also announced the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign and a Triple Lock commitment to increase the State Pension by up to £2,100 over this Parliament.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the DWP has announced that 441 postcode areas will receive Cold Weather Payments due to the cold temperatures. The payments are an automatic bank top-up of £25, triggered by the average temperature recorded at a weather station linked to an eligible person’s postcode. Eligible households will receive the payments automatically, and the DWP has confirmed that an estimated 674,000 households will be eligible. The government has also announced efforts to support vulnerable households during the winter months, including the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign and a Triple Lock commitment to increase the State Pension.