Thousands of households in the UK could be issued with a special payment from the Department for Work and Pensions
News
Rory Poulter and Jamie Brassington
16:17, 02 Jan 2025
A special payment of £25 could be distributed to thousands of UK households(Image: Getty)
The winter season often sees a spike in energy bills as households crank up the heat to combat the cold. However, financial relief may be on the horizon for low-income families struggling with high energy costs.
A special payment of £25 could be distributed to thousands of UK households in anticipation of the upcoming wintry weather. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides Cold Weather Payments during periods of particularly chilly weather.
These payments are made when the average temperature in a household’s area is recorded or predicted to be 0C or below for seven consecutive days. With snow expected for several days starting Saturday, the January cold snap could trigger these Cold Weather Payments.
The winter season often sees a spike in energy bills(Image: Getty)
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather alert spanning three days, commencing at midday on Saturday, January 4. This alert will remain active until 9am on Monday, January 6.
Further snowfall is forecast for Tuesday, with a significant amount expected to cover many parts of England. The Met Office has indicated that the start of the year will see colder conditions, with air from the “north flowing across the UK”, reports Birmingham Live.
Amber alerts have been issued from 12pm on Thursday until January 8, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. Temperatures could drop to as low as minus 8C on Thursday night in rural southern Scotland and northern England, the Met Office said.
READ MORE: The DWP 2025 changes you need to know from tax rules to bill increasesREAD MORE: New DWP investigation powers explained ahead of PIP fraud ‘phone or email’ crackdown
To qualify for Cold Weather Payments, households must be receiving certain benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit. More information can be found here.
A £25 payment is made for each period of extreme cold weather between November 1 and March 31. Households are informed that they do not need to apply for these payments as they will be automatically paid if eligible.