North East postcodes eligible for Cold Weather Payment after freezing weather - here’s how to check

If you are receiving certain benefits or support for mortgage interest, you may be entitled to claim Cold Weather Payments to help cover the cost of heating during the winter months.

You may be eligible if you are getting: Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, Support for Mortgage Interest.

What are Cold Weather Payments?

If eligible, 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 7 consecutive days.

You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

How do you know if a payment is due in your area?

There is at least one payment due for most areas in the North East of England.

Enter your postcode here to find out: https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/

If you are receiving benefits these are the criteria to be eligible for Cold Weather Payments.

Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

You’ll usually be eligible for Cold Weather Payments if you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and have any of the following:

A disability or pensioner premium

A child who is disabled

Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element

A child under 5 living with you

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group. If you’re not in either group, you might also get Cold Weather Payments if you have any of the following:

A severe or enhanced disability premium

A pensioner premium

A child who is disabled

Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element

A child under 5 living with you

Universal Credit

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit and you’re not employed or self-employed. One of the following must also apply:

You have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)

You have a child under 5 living with you

You’ll also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you’re employed or not.

How do you claim?

You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid it automatically.

If you have not received a payment when you think you should have tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office.

If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account and add a note to your journal or ring the Universal Credit helpline if you don’t have an account.

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