Cold weather payments have been activated for several postcodes as Britain endures an Arctic chill. With temperatures dropping below zero in the first significant freeze of late 2024, a £25 payment will be issued to some individuals if the cold persists.

Those on certain benefits are now eligible for this payment to assist them in staying warm. The Cold Weather Payment scheme is applicable to those in England and Wales who receive various benefits.

This marks the first issuance of Cold Weather Payments for the winter season of 2024/25. Earlier this year, Labour scrapped the £200-300 winter fuel payment for over 10 million pensioners, raising concerns that some of the UK’s poorest residents would struggle to heat their homes.

Now, only those claiming Pension Credit are eligible. In 2022, the DWP made more than 5.5 million Cold Weather Payments.

According to the DWP, those claiming Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest may be eligible for the Cold Weather Payment, reports Lancs Live.

Not everyone receiving these benefits will automatically qualify for a Cold Weather Payment. There are several factors that determine whether a payment will be made, and full details of eligibility can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility.

The Cold Weather Payments have been activated for twelve postcode areas in Cumbria, four in Northumberland, and two postcodes in the Scottish Borders which cross into England. It’s estimated that around 10,000 people will receive the payment, marking the first areas to receive a Cold Weather Payment this winter.

The twelve postcode areas in Cumbria set to receive a payment include the Lakes, Kendal and Coniston, following freezing temperatures recorded at the Shap weather centre. The payment was triggered on 18 November.

The complete list of postcode areas where eligible individuals will receive a £50 Cold Weather Payment includes: CA9 Leadgate, Cumbria; CA10 Cliburn, Cumbria; CA11 Catterlen, Cumbria; CA12 Keswick, Cumbria; CA16 Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria; CA17 Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria; LA8 Kendal, Cumbria; LA9 Kendal, Cumbria; LA10 Sedbergh, Cumbria; LA21 Coniston, Cumbria; LA22 Lakes, Cumbria; LA23 Windermere, Cumbria; NE19 Elsdon, Northumberland; NE47 Allendale, Northumberland; NE48 Bellingham, Northumberland; NE49 Haltwhistle, Northumberland; TD9 Scottish Borders (parts in England); DG14 Dumfries border (parts in England).

Charities are raising the alarm about the detrimental effects of the cold snap on the most vulnerable as the Met Office declares this period “the first taste of winter”. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has triggered this season’s initial amber cold weather health alert, urging special attention for at-risk individuals such as the elderly.

This alert is focused on the east and north of England, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber regions. Starting from 8am Tuesday, yellow warnings have been announced for South East, South West, and London that will last until 6pm on Saturday.

Dr Agostinho Sousa of the UKHSA emphasised: “This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter, and it is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”

The DWP hasn’t yet released a comprehensive list of areas that have received the Cold Weather Payments this week, but MPs have received notices regarding eligible postcodes in their constituencies. These areas are also accessible through the DWP’s online search tool.

Payments are activated if the average temperatures in an area have been recorded at, or are predicted to be, below freezing for seven consecutive days. Eligible recipients will automatically receive £25 for each seven-day period of cold weather running throughout the winter season from 1 November 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Currently, a yellow snow and ice warning is in effect until 10am on Tuesday, covering Northern Ireland. Another yellow alert is active until 10am on Wednesday, affecting areas in Scotland, and a third lasts until 11am on Tuesday, impacting areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the north of England.

Within these affected regions, there’s a possibility of power cuts, disruption to road and public transport and the risk of injury from slipping on ice. The Alzheimer’s Society has warned that cold weather can pose “particularly challenging” conditions for people with dementia.

“Colder temperatures can be difficult for a person with dementia to adjust to, and they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold – or they may not even recognise it themselves,” the charity stated.