DWP braces to send out first £25 Cold Weather Payments of year

The Department for Work and Pensions is ready to rollout its FIRST Cold Weather Payments of the year - with postcodes eligible to be triggered starting today. The DWP will give £25 to certain households when the temperatures drop from now until March.

The Cold Weather Payment scheme will reopen on 1 November 2024. You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. 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 seven consecutive days.

You’ll get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from 1 November 2024 to 31 March 2025. The rules mean you could be eligible to get £50 or even £75.

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You’ll get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.

Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits. The payment will be labelled "DWP CWP" on your bank statement, and they will be made into the same bank or building society account where you receive your benefits. The scheme opened today and will run until the end of March next year.

To be eligible for the cash, households will need to claim one of several DWP benefits, which include Pension Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or Universal Credit. You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid it automatically.

Minister for Pensions Emma 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 five years.”