The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that eligible households will receive a double Cold Weather Payment of £50.
An estimated 6,000 people are now due the increased payment, which has been triggered by the extended cold snap over the past week.
The UK has seen temperatures drop below zero since the start of the new year, with heavy snowfall in some areas.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme typically provides £25 to eligible households when temperatures drop to zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days.
However, due to the sustained cold weather from January 2 to January 9, the payment criteria has been triggered twice, resulting in a doubled payment of £50.
Very cold weather has sparked Cold Weather Payment triggers in parts of the UK GETTYThe affected areas include 16 postcodes in northern regions and seven near the southwest coast, marking one of the most widespread payment triggers of the winter season.
Full list of postcodes getting DWP Cold Weather Payment for January 2 to 9
- DG14
- TD9
- CA9
- NE19
- NE47
- NE48
- NE49
- CA10
- CA11
- CA12
- CA16
- CA17
- LA8
- LA9
- LA10
- LA21
- LA22
- LA23
The payments come as the UK continues to experience sub-zero temperatures, with some northern areas forecast to reach as low as minus 16C.
The DWP operates this support scheme annually from November to March to help vulnerable households with heating costs during freezing conditions.
The payments will be made automatically to eligible households, with no need for recipients to make a claim.
The money will be paid directly into the same bank account where recipients receive their regular benefits payments.
To qualify for the Cold Weather Payment, households must be receiving specific benefits including Pension Credit, Income Support or Universal Credit.
Recipients can expect the money to arrive within 14 working days of each cold weather period.
The payment will appear in bank statements with a reference starting with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’.
Those living in Scotland are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments, as the Scottish government has implemented a different scheme.
Residents can check if their postcode is eligible for the Cold Weather Payment using the DWP’s postcode checker tool on the gov.uk website.
If someone believes they should have received a payment but haven’t, they should contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
With temperatures expected to remain low, more Cold Weather Payments could be triggered in the coming days, according to the Met Office forecasts.
The DWP continues to monitor temperatures across all UK postcodes using their own measurement equipment.
Full list of postcodes eligible for cold weather payment since November:
- DT6 Bridport, Dorset
- DT7 Lyme Regis, Devon
- DT8 Beaminster, Dorset
- EX13 Axminster, Devon
- EX14 Honiton, Devon
- EX15 Cullompton, Devon
- TA21 Wellington, Somerset
- CA10 Penrith, Cumbria
- CA11 Penrith, Cumbria
- CA12 Keswick, Cumbria
- CA16 Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria
- CA17 Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
- LA8 Kendal, Lancashire
- LA9 Kendal, Lancashire
- LA10 Sedbergh, Cumbria
- LA21 Coniston, Cumbria
- LA22 Lakes, Cumbria
- LA23 Windermere, Cumbria
- CA9 Alston, Cumbria
- NE19 Elsdon, Northumberland
- NE47 Allendale, Northumberland
- NE48 Bellingham, Northumberland
- NE49 Haltwhistle, Northumberland