The UK’s freezing temperatures means cold weather payments have been made available to 51 UK postcode regions by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
A seven-day stretch of below-freezing weather in these areas, beginning on January 4 and extending through to Saturday, January 11, prompted the most recent payouts.
So what are the payments, and who is eligible?
Here, the PA news agency answers key questions about them.
What is a cold weather payment?
Cold weather payments are made to vulnerable people, including pensioners, in England and Wales to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing.
Who can get one?
Cold weather payments go to those living in an area where the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.
What areas have been triggered?
Qualifying households in these locations will get a £25 payment to help with the additional expense of heating their homes.
How can I check if my area is eligible?
People can visit coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk online to check.
Who is eligible?
Those eligible for cold weather payments need to be living in a place where the average temperature or forecast is 0°C or below over seven consecutive days.
You may get cold weather payments if you’re receiving:
How much can you get?
People get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31 each year.
As the weather gets colder, make sure you know if Cold Weather Payments are due in your area https://t.co/FQgy0ENdPY pic.twitter.com/yvJf8dGJRD
— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) February 27, 2018
How can you get a cold weather payment?
Those eligible do not need to apply; it will be paid automatically.
When do you get paid?
The bank top-up will be in eligible people’s bank accounts within 14 days of the trigger.
Does this affect my benefits?
Cold weather payments do not affect other benefits.
What if I am in hospital?
Those in hospital should tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus as this could affect their payment.
What if I live in Scotland?
Scots cannot get the payment.
In Scotland, people on benefits or low incomes may qualify for an annual £50 winter heating payment, though this is made irrespective of cold temperatures.
What if I do not receive my payment?
People are advised to tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
Those getting universal credit should sign in to their account and add a note to the journal.
How do I challenge a cold weather payment decision?
According to charity Turn2us, the DWP’s decision on a person’s payment claim can be challenged.
If the decision stands, people can appeal to an independent tribunal.
The time limits are strict, with a one-month window to dispute a decision.
What other payments can I get?
People born before September 26, 1956 who are eligible could get between £250 and £600 to help pay their heating bills.
There is also the warm home discount scheme, in which people get £150 off their electricity bill over the winter.
What has the DWP said?
A spokesman said: “These additional payments provide support every year to help people experiencing the coldest weather.
“Cold weather payments can be triggered right through to the end of March, giving people facing disproportionately cold weather that extra reassurance over the chillier months.”
