With colder conditions expected heading into winter, certain households will soon start to see £25 cash payments land in bank accounts from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The Cold Weather Payment scheme reopened on November 1, which offers eligible households financial support when the weather drops below a certain level for an extended period of time.
The scheme runs until March, and people in receipt of certain DWP benefits qualify for the support.
Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds said: “As we head into the winter months, I want to ensure the most vulnerable in our society are getting the support they need. That’s why we have a range of measures targeted at helping low-income households, such as Cold Weather Payments and the Warm Homes Discount.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the Cold Weather Payment scheme.
When are Cold Weather Payments made?
Cold Weather Payments of £25 are paid per seven days if the average temperature in a person’s area falls to zero degrees or below.
Households can check if a payment is due in their area using the DWP’s Cold Weather Payment postcode checker.
The money will appear in bank statements within 14 days of each seven days of very cold weather between November 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
The payment reference will start with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’ for people in England and Wales.
The payments are paid automatically to households receiving certain means-tested benefits.
Who is eligible for Cold Weather Payments?
A person must be receiving one of the following benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest.
There are certain requirements with each benefit that entitle a person to receive payment, such as also having a disability or pensioner premium, or if they’re living with a child under five. To find out the full list of requirements for each benefit, people can visit the Government webpage.
People living in Scotland are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments, however, they may be able to get an annual Winter Heating Payment instead.
This is worth £58.75 and will be automatically paid once a year in December through Social Security Scotland, to anyone who would qualify for a Cold Weather Payment.
