New DWP Cold Weather Payments launched across the UK, check whether you’re eligible

The UK has been hit with terrible weather recently, though the harsh conditions are set to become more mild towards the weekend. Especially with the run-up to Christmas, people are struggling to cope with expenses over the festive period.

The Department for Work and Pension (DWP)’s Cold Weather Payment scheme has been established to help people with their energy bills when the weather gets particularly brutal. Here’s when it kicks in, and the 11 new postcodes that have just been added to the list of eligible areas.

DWP’s Cold Weather Payment

Under this scheme, people on certain benefits get £25 to help with their energy bills when the average temperature in your area hits zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days.

Last week, nearly 300 postcode areas in the UK were set to receive the payments. This affected over 580,000 people, and today’s announcement of more areas being added to the list will benefit thousands more.

The 11 new postcodes affected by the scheme

The DWP have now added parts of the East Midlands to the list. Postcodes in Staffordshire and Derbyshire have passed the threshold as temperatures remained low from November 28 to December 4. You can find the full list of eligible postcode areas on the Mirror's interactive map.

The DWP advises that people who receive the following benefits may be eligible for this payment: Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Support for Mortgage Interest. However, there are several factors that determine your eligibility. To check if you could qualify, head over to GOV.UK’s page on this topic.

Please note, if you live in Scotland you will not receive this payment. Instead, you could receive an annual Winter Heating Payment.

These payments are far from enormous, but you can receive consecutive payments if the weather remains under the threshold for multiple periods of seven consecutive days.

Read more:

⋙ This is how much money you should have in your savings account

⋙ Universal Credit and other DWP benefits to be paid early in December, here's when you can expect them

⋙ £750 in cost of living payments: When are they coming and are you eligible?

Sources used:

GOV.UK: Cold Weather Payment

Mirror: DWP Cold Weather Payments triggered in 11 new postcode areas - see if you're due money