NI cold weather payments triggered for additional areas across region
The Department for Communities has confirmed additional postcode areas in Northern Ireland that will receive a cold weather payment.
If you're receiving certain benefits, you could qualify for extra money for each week there is very cold weather in your area as part of the scheme. You’ll get a payment of £25 if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
Over the last two weeks, temperatures across Northern Ireland have dropped below freezing, with snow and ice having caused disruption to roads and local schools.
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On Monday morning, January 13, additional postcodes were confirmed as recipients of the payments, which will be made automatically.
Cold weather payments were triggered for the following postcode areas:
Glenanne No 2 (BT35 and BT60 to BT71), 4 January to 10 January 2025
Thomastown (BT74 to BT77 and BT92 to BT94), 4 January to 10 January 2025
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.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account 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.
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