Cold Weather payments are paid out to people on certain benefits to help them pay for heating during winter months.

This includes pensioners on Pension Credit, those on welfare with children under the age of five or on Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and the disabled.

If the temperature falls below freezing for seven consecutive days, eligible households will receive £25 for each seven-day period between 1 November and 31 March.

Those who are on the appropriate benefits do not need to apply for Cold Weather Payments as they will automatically receive the payment, usually to the same bank account which receives their other benefits.

There has been some concern this year that the early onslaught of freezing temperatures would stretch the Treasury budget – the payments so far have come to a total of £103 million, 27 million more than the government forecast for the entire year.

Last year, another particularly cold winter, saw the government spend £300 million on Cold Weather Payments, and this year looks like another record year for sustained cold temperatures.

If you feel that you are eligible for Cold Weather Payments and have not received any money, you are encouraged to contact you pension centre or Jobcentre Plus.

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