NI cold weather payment map shows where is eligible to receive funding

-Credit:Jonathan Porter/PressEye
-Credit:Jonathan Porter/PressEye


There are twelve areas in Northern Ireland where people are currently eligible for cold weather payments following a week of freezing temperatures that has seen yellow warnings in place from the Met Office everyday.

While all of Northern Ireland has been impacted by icy conditions and some areas have had to deal with snow, not everywhere has been deemed eligible for cold weather payments due to the critera.

This means that even though there has been snow in certain areas, temperatures have not been cold enough for long enough to receive the payment.

Read more: Northern Ireland Cold Weather Payments explained as Met Office issues snow and ice warning

Read more: Tips for staying warm in Northern Ireland amid weather warning

People in receipt of certain benefits can receive cold weather payments if their postcode area has had temperatures of 0 degrees or below for seven days. The payments are £25 for each seven day period of freezing temperatures.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following the recent cold spell in Northern Ireland, people in eight areas are able to receive the payments which are;

  • BT30 - Downpatrick

  • BT24- Ballynahinch

  • BT33 - Newcastle

  • BT31- Castlewellan

  • BT26 - Hillsborough

  • BT25 - Dromore

  • BT32- Banbridge

  • BT34- Newry

  • BT78 - Omagh

  • BT79 - Omagh

  • BT81 - Castlederg

  • BT82 - Strabane

The payments should be made to those who are eligible within 14 days of the cold weather period, and it is paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments. Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits.

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:

  • Pension Credit

  • Income Support

  • Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based)

  • Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)

  • Universal Credit

  • Support for Mortgage Interest

If you do not receive a cold weather payment when you are eligible for one you need to tell the Northern Ireland Pension Centre or your local Jobs and Benefits office if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not.

ADVERTISEMENT

If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account(external link opens in a new window / tab) and add a note to your journal.

If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit claim.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.