Ensure eligibility and receive information on when to anticipate receiving cold weather payments.

A sudden drop in temperature has caused the UK to be covered in snow, with some areas reaching lows of -10C. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released an amber health warning, indicating that the effects of the weather will likely impact the health service for an extended period of time.

The DWP offers the Cold Weather Payment program to assist individuals during extreme cold weather. This program provides a single payment of £25 for eligible households, triggered for each seven-day period when the temperature in their location is at or below zero degrees.

You are eligible to receive the payment if you meet any of the criteria listed below:

You must reside in a location where temperatures have reached zero or below for seven consecutive days. To determine if your postal code falls within a qualifying region, the government provides a convenient tool.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) utilizes their own tools to assess temperatures in every postcode within the UK. If you do not agree with their evaluation, there is an option to directly appeal to the department.

If you reside in Scotland, you are not eligible for this program since the Scottish government has recently replaced it with Winter Heating Payments.

If you meet the requirements, you will receive these payments without any action on your part. They will be deposited into the same bank account where you receive benefit payments, within 14 business days after the cold period.

If you think you are eligible but have not yet received the payments, please reach out to the DWP.

Source: independent.co.uk