DWP prepares to send out free £25 payments which are 'automatically applied'

DWP prepares to send out free £25 payments which are 'automatically applied'

by · Birmingham Live

Cold weather payments worth £25 a week from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) are set to start from TODAY. The payments from the DWP are being made between today, November 1, and March 31, 2025, to cover energy bills.

Emma Reynolds, minister for pensions, said: "As we head into the winter months, I want to ensure the most vulnerable in our society are getting the support they need, and that’s why we have a range of measures targeted at helping low-income households, such as Cold Weather Payments."

The payments are an automatic bank top-up of £25, triggered to be paid to eligible households. The £25 payments will be paid automatically to households receiving certain benefits including Pension Credit and Income Support.

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Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are also qualifying criteria. Universal Credit and support for Mortgage Interest complete the list. The money will appear in bank statements within 14 days of each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, with the payment reference starting with the customer’s national Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’ for people in England and Wales.

Ms Reynolds said: "With the dire state of the public finances, we have had to make some tough choices, including means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment so that it goes to those most in need. And while these choices were not made lightly, this Government is doing everything it can to ensure maximum take-up of Pension Credit while also continuing to support pensioners through our commitment to the Triple Lock which will mean an increase in the full state pension of up to £1,700 over the next 5 years.”

If you meet the eligibility criteria for a cold weather payment but don't get one when you think you should have, contact the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469 or your local Jobcentre Plus.