Households across the UK could claim as much as £50 due to cold weather (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
UK households could be in line for a payout of up to £50 due to the recent spate of chilly weather. Those claiming certain benefits are entitled to extra funds during cold spells to assist with heating costs, courtesy of the Department of Work and Pensions () annual Cold Weather Payment scheme, which runs from November through March.
When temperatures dip below 0C for seven consecutive days, eligible households within the affected postcodes receive a one-off payment of £25. In some cases, households may qualify for two consecutive Cold Weather Payments, leading to a £50 windfall.
The year’s first Cold Weather Payments have now been triggered following a temperature drop in northern England. These payments are activated if temperatures are either recorded or forecasted to be 0C or lower for a full week.
Which benefits are eligible for the Cold Weather Payment
According to the , 18 postcode areas in England are due payments for the period from January 2 to January 9. A range of benefits could make you eligible for the Cold Weather Payment:
- Universal Credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit
Scottish residents do not qualify for this scheme. Even if you receive these benefits, there may be additional criteria to meet, full details of which can be found on
How to check if you’re owed a Cold Weather Payment
To check if you’re due a Cold Weather Payment, use the ‘s postcode checker on We also have a comprehensive list of all the postcode areas due a payment for January.
Areas due a payment include some in Cumbria and Northumberland. Although Scottish postcodes are not included in the Cold Weather Payment scheme, some areas of the Scottish Borders, technically in England despite having a Scottish postcode, are eligible for payments.