The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has initiated Cold Weather Payments in approximately 250 postcode areas across England and Wales today. This action follows the issuance of multiple winter weather warnings by the Met Office for the upcoming week. Eligible households, totaling over half a million, will receive £25 each to help cover heating expenses.
The activation of these payments affects a total of 246 postcodes, including regions such as Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, as well as parts of Wales and Northern Ireland. The list of postcodes receiving the payments has been updated today.
Cold Weather Payments are disbursed to individuals in England and Wales who receive various benefits. A similar scheme operates in Northern Ireland, while in Scotland, support for heating bills is provided throughout the winter, not tied to specific cold weather periods.
This winter, £25 payments have been triggered for 697 postcode areas, with 18 districts receiving two payments due to prolonged cold conditions. The latest round of payments is estimated to reach 532,000 households, with a significant portion in Greater Manchester. The total expenditure for today’s Cold Weather Payments is projected to be £13.3 million.
In England and Wales, payments are activated when the forecast predicts temperatures below zero for seven consecutive days. Meteorologists are anticipating a cold spell leading into the New Year, with subzero temperatures expected in many regions.
Approximately 3.9 million individuals are eligible for Cold Weather Payments under the DWP scheme, with 1.2 million receiving Pensions Credit. Those receiving benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support, JSA, ESA, Universal Credit, and Support for Mortgage Interest may qualify for the Cold Weather Payment, although not all beneficiaries are automatically entitled.
The payments of £25 are directly deposited into recipients’ bank accounts within 14 working days, bearing a payment reference including the National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’. No application is required for this payment.