What is a cold weather payment, how much is it, and how can I get one?
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This year has so far got off to a cold start, with temperatures dropping below freezing in some parts of the UK – including London. The Met Office has warned temperatures are hitting as low as -2°C in the capital overnight and while it’s set to get a little warmer over the weekend, drizzle and even snow could be on the way.
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The UK’s freezing weather means some households could be eligible for cold weather payments, but it will need to stay chillier for a little longer in order for them to kick in. So what are the payments, and who is eligible?. Here, the PA news agency answers key questions about them.
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Cold weather payments are made to vulnerable people, including pensioners, in England and Wales to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing. Cold weather payments go to those living in an area where the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.
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A cold snap last November caused the first cold weather payments to be triggered in some parts of the country, but the current chill hasn’t yet lasted long enough for them to kick in. Those eligible for cold weather payments need to be living in a place where the average temperature or forecast is 0°C or below over seven consecutive days.
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