£25 cold weather payment alert as freezing temperatures to hit UK

Richard Guttridge

14 November 2024 at 8:09 am·2-min read

snow — -Credit: (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Households are being put on alert over possible cold weather payments with the UK about to be gripped by an icy blast. Temperatures are set to plummet as conditions take a decidedly wintry turn in the coming days.

And when the weather drops particularly cold, people on low incomes can get special emergency payments to ensure they stay warm. The payments are worth £25 for each day of very cold weather.

It has put weather watchers on alert with daytime temperatures set to fall to 4C from Tuesday, and below freezing overnight. There's also a chance of snow in the Midlands.

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But it may not be cold enough yet to trigger the special payments. The average temperature has to be 0C or below over seven consecutive days for money to be paid out.

Temperatures are forecast to rise slightly towards the end of next week, seemingly ruling out any cold weather payments in the region for now. But that could change over the coming weeks if there is another particularly cold spell.

Those eligible for the payments include people on Pension Credit, Universal Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Government says: "You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.

"If you’re eligible, you’ll get these payments 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.

"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 7 consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.

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£25 cold weather payment alert as freezing temperatures to hit UK

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