The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Cold Weather Payment scheme has opened today, granting households a cash boost during a wintery spell.
The scheme runs until March, and people are awarded £25 per seven days if the average temperature in their area falls to zero degrees or below.
The £25 payments are paid automatically to households receiving certain means-tested benefits.
The money will appear on bank statements within 14 days of each seven days of very cold weather between November 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. The payment reference will start with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’ for people in England and Wales.
Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds said: “As we head into the winter months, I want to ensure the most vulnerable in our society are getting the support they need. That’s why we have a range of measures targeted at helping low-income households, such as Cold Weather Payments and the Warm Homes Discount.”
Who is eligible for Cold Weather Payments?
To be eligible to receive a Cold Weather Payment, a person must be receiving one of the following benefits:
There are certain requirements with each benefit that entitle a person to receive payment, such as also having a disability or pensioner premium, or if they’re living with a child under five. To find out the full list of requirements for each benefit, people can visit the government webpage.
Households can check if a payment is due in their area using the DWP’s Cold Weather Payment postcode checker.
While people living in Scotland are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments, they may be able to get an annual Winter Heating Payment instead.
This is worth £58.75 and will be automatically paid once a year in December through Social Security Scotland, to anyone who would qualify for a Cold Weather Payment.
It appears as ‘WHP’ bank statements – WHP stands for Winter Heating Payment.
Social Security Scotland expects the payment to be made before February 2025. Eligible recipients will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland beforehand.
