The UK’s freezing weather means some households are eligible for cold weather payments. But what are they and who can receive one?
A yellow warning for ice across southern England and South Wales expired at 3am on Tuesday morning.
Temperatures dropped as low as -1C in Birmingham, 0C in Glasgow and 1C in London overnight.
An amber cold health alert for the North West of England, the Midlands, the South West of England and the South East of England is also in place until noon on Friday.
The amber alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), means “cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time”.
Here are answers to the key questions about the payments.
– What is a cold weather payment?
Cold weather payments are made to vulnerable people, including pensioners, in England and Wales to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing.
– Who can get one?
It goes to those living in an area where the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days.
– How can I check if my area is eligible?
People can visit coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk online to check.
– Who is eligible?
You may get cold weather payments if you’re receiving:
– Pension credit
– Income support
– Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
– Income-related employment and support allowance
– Universal credit
