Areas across the UK were battered by Storm Goretti which triggered the payments
Areas across the UK were battered by Storm Goretti which triggered the payments
Anyone eligible for the Department for Work and Pensions Cold Weather Payment will receive the payment automatically. It should arrive in the same bank account that a claimant receives benefit payments into. Nearly 1.5 million households will soon receive the payment after freezing cold temperatures across the UK.
Areas across the UK were battered by Storm Goretti, which brought winds, snow and low temperatures. The DWP’S Cold Weather Payment scheme is a one-off payment for qualifying households. It is triggered for every seven-day period where the temperature of an area is at or below zero degrees.
People should receive the payment within 14 days, with the payment reference “DWP CWP”. You should tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus if you think you should receive a Cold Weather Payment but you have not.
Over one million households across 802 postcode areas are now estimated to receive a payment, with these areas split across the UK, covering areas of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Since November 1, there have been eight days of triggers due to the sub-zero temperatures experienced across the country. You can check your postcode if you live in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland and see if you are eligible for a Cold Weather Payment by using the government tool, here.
You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:
Pension Credit
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Universal Credit
Support for Mortgage Interest
Minister for Pensions 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.”
A total of 17 out of the Met Office’s 71 weather stations triggered the payment during the week ending January 9. Fourteen of them for the first time this winter.
The highest number of payments (241,000) was triggered by the station at Rostherne in Cheshire, covering people living in much of east Cheshire and southern Greater Manchester.
The cold weather payment scheme for England and Wales runs from November 1 to March 31 each year.
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