Cold weather payments
Posted by Kelly Duke on 6th February 2012
If you are receiving income support, pension credit or income related employment and support allowance you may be able to receive additional cold weather payments for each period of cold weather. They are paid automatically to you. There is no need to make an application. A payment of £25 will be made for every seven day period of cold weather.
The Met Office have notified the Department for Work and Pensions that one period of very cold weather has occurred in the ME16 postcode area between 1 November 2011 and 3 February 2012 which has triggered a cold weather payment. With the temperatures falling over the weekend further payments may be triggered. If a period of cold weather has been confirmed in your area this will be detailed on www.direct.gov.uk.
A period of very cold weather is confirmed when the temperature is either:
recorded as an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days in a row
forecast to be an average zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days in a row
It is important that you check whether you should be entitled to receive a cold weather payment as this can provide vital assistance with an increased fuel bill over this cold spell.
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