Full list of benefits eligible for cold weather payments worth up to £25 a week – will you qualify?
HARD-UP Brits across the country can get £25 a week in support when temperatures plunge below-zero.
Cold weather payments help support low-income households during prolonged periods of freezing temperatures.
And eligible households get the cash paid directly into their bank accounts within 14 days.
Households can get £25 during each seven-day period of low temperatures from now until March 31.
Cold weather payments have been triggered in over 285 postcodes so far in 2023 - meaning that thousands of households are owed cash.
The payment is made automatically, including to those on Universal Credit.
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Payments will appear in bank statements as your National Insurance number followed by "DWP CWP" for people in England and Wales.
If you live in Northern Ireland it will appear as "SSA CWP".
Your National Insurance number is made up of two letters, then six numbers, then a letter.
We've listed all the postcodes that have qualified for a single £25 cold weather payment so far this winter.
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But only those on certain types of benefits, including Universal Credit and Pension Credit, can get the free cash.
You are eligible for the cold weather payment scheme if you receive one of the following benefits and meet the criteria:
- Pension Credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for mortgage interest
You may also need to meet one or more of these additional criteria:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credits that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
You can find out more about eligibility on the government's website.
Getting the cold weather payment doesn't affect any other benefits you get.
If you're eligible, you should get the payments automatically within 14 days, into the same account where you get your benefit payments.
You might be able to get multiple payouts if the cold weather continues beyond seven days too.
Some areas have been paid as much as £75 in the past.
Below we explain more about what the cold weather payment is and how eligible Brits can get the cash.
What are cold weather payments?
The cold weather payment is dished out when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days.
When temperatures drop between November 1 and March 31, eligible Brits are entitled to extra money to heat their homes when this happens.
You get £25 for each seven-day period where the weather is below zero Celsius on average during this time frame.
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government's tool on its website.
Cold weather payments are no longer paid in Scotland as the scheme has been replaced.
Instead, you might get an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment. You can find out more about the scheme on the .
How do I apply for the cold weather payment?
You do not need to apply to the scheme.
If you don't receive a payment but believe you're eligible, contact your local Pension Centre or Jobcentre Plus office.
Alternatively, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you're getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
When temperatures plummet, you can check if your area is due a cold weather payment by typing your postcode into the government's tool on its website.
What other help is available?
There is other help out there if you are not eligible for the cold weather payments.
For example, you could be entitled to a cost of living payment of up to £1,350.
This year and into 2024 the government is handing out payments to millions of people.
Individually the payments are worth £900, £300 and £150.
Some people may be eligible for all three which means a total of £1,350.
The £900 Cost of Living payment has been split into three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299.
The second instalment of £300 is being dished out from October 31.
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A separate £300 pensioner CoL payment is being paid between November and December/
Plus the £150 started being applied to customer bills on October 16.
You can also join our new Sun Money to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.