A number of people on the lowest incomes in parts of the UK could be set to receive a cash boost through cold weather payments.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging households to check if they could be eligible for the £25 support.

The UK Government payments of £25 are triggered when temperatures are set to fall below freezing for seven consecutive days.

Eligible households in several postcodes have already qualified for the payment following the cold snaps this week, with more likely to qualify as further cold weather is expected.

The money will appear in bank statements within 14 days of each seven-day period of very cold weather.

Payments will be made directly into accounts with the payment reference starting with the customer’s national Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’ for people in England and Wales.

These postcodes have qualified for the £25 payment this week: DG14, TD9, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23, CA9, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49.

Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds 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 and the Warm Homes Discount.

“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.”

Who is eligible for cold weather payments?

Cold weather payments are paid to eligible households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

They can be paid to people between November 1 and March 31, with eligible homes receiving £25 for each seven-day period where the average temperature falls below 0C.

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In order to qualify for cold weather payments, you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

  • Pension Credit
  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit
  • Support for Mortgage Interest

Full eligibility criteria can be found here, and you can check if cold weather payments have been triggered in your area by entering your postcode here.

What is the Warm Home Discount Scheme?

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off discount on your electricity bill worth £150.

The money is not paid directly to you but is taken off of your energy bills between October 2024 and March 2025.

You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead of your electricity bill if your supplier provides you with both and you are eligible.

Who is eligible for Warm Home Discount Scheme?

Last year, eligibility for the Warm Home Discount Scheme varied depending on if you live in Wales or England, or if you live in Scotland.

If you lived in either Wales or England, you qualified for the scheme if you either:

  • received the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as ‘core group 1’
  • were on a low income and had high energy costs - known as ‘core group 2’

While those living in Scotland were eligible if they either:

  • received the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
  • were on a low income and met their energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’

The Warm Home Discount scheme was not available in Northern Ireland.

Which energy providers are part of Warm Home Discount scheme?

The following suppliers are part of the scheme:

  • 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
  • Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • Boost
  • British Gas
  • Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • Co-op Energy - see Octopus Energy
  • E - also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
  • Ecotricity
  • E.ON Next
  • EDF
  • Good Energy
  • London Power
  • Octopus Energy
  • Outfox the Market
  • OVO
  • Rebel Energy
  • Sainsbury’s Energy
  • Scottish Gas – see British Gas
  • ScottishPower
  • Shell Energy Retail
  • So Energy
  • Tomato Energy
  • TruEnergy
  • Utilita
  • Utility Warehouse

How to apply for Warm Home Discount Scheme

The Warm Home Discount Scheme for this winter will open on October 14.

Last year, the process for eligible households depended on how you qualified for the discount.

If you received the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or were on low income in England and Wales, you were sent a letter between November and January informing you that you were eligible.

Once you received your letter, you were required to confirm your details by the end of February, and the discount was applied to your electricity bill by the end of March.

Those living in Scotland who did not receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit were required to apply directly to their electricity supplier.

You had to check if your energy supplier was part of the scheme, prove that you are your partner received means-tested benefits or tax credits, and show that your name or your partner’s name was on the bill.