The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could be issuing special £25 payments to eligible households across the UK. It follows as a period of cold weather is due to arrive this month, reports BirminghamLive.
The Cold Weather Payment is issued when the average temperature in a household’s area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or lower for seven consecutive days. It hopes to help those who are on low income and struggle with energy bills.
Snow is forecast for a number of days in Cambridgeshire starting on Saturday (January 4), meaning the payments could soon be made. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning that spans for three days.
The alert will remain in place until Monday, January 6, at 9am. However, more snow has been forecasted on Tuesday (January 7), with a large mass of snow to blanket many parts of England.
The Met Office has predicted colder conditions for the start of the year. The forecaster said the unsettled period from New Year will “yield to colder conditions” where there will be air from the “north flowing across the UK”.
Households must be eligible in order to receive Cold Weather Payments. That includes those on benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit.
A £25 payment will be made for every period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31. Households have been advised they do not need to apply for Cold Weather Payments as they’ll be paid automatically if eligible.