More households in the North East may be able to get help towards heating costs after Cold Weather Payments were triggered in several postcodes.
The region has recently seen temperatures plunge, with many places dropping below zero degrees. As a result, people in some areas are eligible for Cold Weather Payments, which are provided by the Department for Work and Pensions.
You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over seven consecutive days. If you qualify, you’ll get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November, 2024, and 31 March, 2025. So you can receive multiple Cold Weather Payments if you get several periods of freezing weather over winter.
The money is given out if you’re receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. If you’re eligible, you’ll get the cash automatically. You do not need to apply, but you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus if you have a baby or if a child under 5 comes to live with you. The payments do not affect your other benefits.
After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.
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A number of postcodes across the UK have been triggered for the payment. These include locations in Northumberland and County Durham, while other places are in North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Scotland. The latest postcodes to be added to the list include areas in Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle.
Below is the full list of postcodes where the payment was triggered on Thursday, January 2, and Saturday, January 4. You can also check here if the weather where you live means you may get a payment.
Full list of postcodes triggered
Thursday, January 2:
Eskdalemuir – DG14, TD9
Redesdale – CA9, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49
Shap – CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23
Saturday, January 4:
Bainbridge: BD23, BD24, DL8, DL11, DL12, DL13
Bingley: BB4, BB8, BB9, BB10, BB11, BB12, BB18, BD1, BD2, BD3, BD4, BD5, BD6, BD7, BD8, BD9, BD10, BD11, BD12, BD13, BD14, BD15, BD16, BD17, BD18, BD19, BD20, BD21, BD22, HD3, HD7, HD8, HD9, HX1, HX2, HX3, HX4, HX5, HX6, HX7, LS21, LS29, OL13, OL14, S36
Here are more details about who is eligible for Cold Weather Payments. Further information is also available on the Government website here.