What Is Cold Weather Payment? The Scheme UK Activates In Freezing Conditions

A 'Cold Weather Payment' is a financial benefit given to qualifying individuals following periods of extreme cold. Here’s everything you need to know about the scheme and who can benefit from it.

With temperatures continuing to fall in the United Kingdom, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a National Emergency followed by an alert for severe cold. In the wake of extreme cold conditions, a special monetary allowance, called ‘Cold Weather Payment’, is given to eligible people. The aid of £25 is issued when the mercury drops to zero or lower for seven straight days. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the cold weather payment, who can benefit from it, and how to claim the amount.

The Weather Emergency

This week, Northern Europe’s temperature forecast was recorded colder than usual, with Monday, 12 December, being the coldest day in the UK since December 2012. At the beginning of the month, the recorded daytime high temperature was an average of 8C (46 F) in Southern England and 5C (41F) in Scotland, considering December is almost always chilly in the UK. 

The situation worsened with temperatures dropping significantly in the proceeding days reaching minus levels. The Met Office issued snow, ice, and fog warnings on Tuesday morning across large parts of the country. In the broader spectrum, the temperatures dipped to -7 degrees overnight.

The UK witnessed heavy snowfall and experienced the coldest night of the year with temperatures plummeting as low as -15 degrees C in Aberdeenshire, reports BBC. With continuously deteriorating weather conditions, the government initiated Cold Weather Payments in some parts of the UK, including England and Wales.

What Is Cold Weather Payment?

Freezing temperatures have caused hardship for people belonging to certain sections. Cold Weather Payment is part of a Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) scheme that provides extra money to support the deprived with heating essentials during spells of very cold weather in winter.

The bank top-up of 25 pounds would be automatically credited to the eligible people’s bank accounts under the scheme. The Cold Weather Payment is usually made at the onset of winter from November 1 and continues till March 31 every year. The payments are essentially made in the areas where the average temperature remains zero or less than zero degrees for at least seven consecutive days. 

This time, the DWP will make the payments in parts of Cumbria, North East, and North West England, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Birmingham, Coventry, Staffordshire, and Brecon, according to a government communique.

Who Is Eligible To Get Cold Weather Payments?

The Cold Weather Payment is paid only in England and Wales. People living in Scotland are not eligible for the payments. However, people already on benefits or low incomes may qualify for an annual 50 pounds ‘Winter Heating payment’ in Scotland, irrespective of the temperature recordings.

People from England and Wales can check for their eligibility to receive the Cold Weather Payment with the help of an online postcode checker. 

An individual is entitled to Cold Weather Payment under the following conditions, according to the UK government:

* Receiving either Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI).

* Receiving one of the three — Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment, and Support Allowance.

* Additionally, some other parameters might as well be taken into account. This includes whether you’ve had a baby if a child under the age of 5 lives with you if you or any member of your family has any health condition or disability, limited working capacity, and the type of employment.

DWP pays for the cold weather to tackle soaring prices in winter and increased energy consumption due to the usage of heating appliances for longer durations of time. 

The DWP also gives a 400 pounds rebate on energy bills and boosts winter fuel payments for the pensioners, hoping to relieve the inflation in price rates of essential commodities. 

How To Avail Cold Weather Payment?

If one meets the eligibility criteria, there is an automatic transfer of the said amount to the account of the beneficiary. One need not to apply anywhere in specific to receive the payment.

After temperatures remain zero or less seven days in a row, the payment can be expected within the next 14 working days.

The amount is credited directly into the same bank or building society as one’s usual benefit payment and does not affect the other benefits that the beneficiary might be entitled to or is receiving.