With snow blanketing parts of the UK and temperatures plummeting, the first cold weather payments of 2024 have been triggered. The Met Office has issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, with up to 15cm of snowfall predicted in some areas. To mitigate the impact of this cold snap on vulnerable households, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is distributing cold weather payments.
This scheme provides a one-off payment of £25 for each seven-day period where the temperature in a specific area falls to or below zero degrees Celsius. An estimated 10,000 individuals across 18 postcode areas are anticipated to receive payments in the coming weeks. These areas include 12 in Cumbria, four in Northumberland, and two straddling the England-Scotland border.
Eligibility for Cold Weather Payments:
To qualify for a cold weather payment, you must be receiving one of the following benefits:
Pension Credit
Income Support
Income-based Jobseekerâs Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Universal Credit
Support for Mortgage Interest
Crucially, your residence must fall within an area experiencing seven consecutive days of freezing or below-freezing temperatures. The DWP uses its own temperature monitoring equipment to determine eligibility. To check if your postcode qualifies, a dedicated government tool is available at [https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/](https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/). While the DWP's temperature readings are generally accepted, individuals disagreeing with the assessment can appeal directly to the department. It's important to note that this scheme does not apply to residents of Scotland, where the Scottish government has introduced its own Winter Heating Payments scheme ([https://www.mygov.scot/winter-heating-payment](https://www.mygov.scot/winter-heating-payment)).
Payment Timeline:
Eligible recipients will receive their payments automatically, directly into the same bank account used for their benefit payments. Payments are typically processed within 14 working days of the qualifying cold period ending. Those who believe they are eligible but haven't received payment should contact the DWP directly.
Affected Postcode Areas (2024):
The following postcode areas are currently scheduled to receive cold weather payments in 2024:
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)
Parts of TD9 (English side of border)
Parts of DG14 (English side of border)
This list may be updated as further cold weather payment periods are triggered. Regularly checking the DWP website is advisable for the latest information.