As winter hits with full force and temperatures plummet, parts of Wales are eligible for a cash boost
As snow hits and temperatures drop, people have been offered some relief(Image: Getty Images)
Thousands of households across the UK are set to receive a cash boost as freezing temperatures trigger the government’s Cold Weather Payment scheme. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says around 674,000 homes in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will benefit after Arctic air caused temperatures to plummet in recent days.
Under the scheme, households receive £25 for every seven-day period when temperatures drop to zero degrees Celsius or below. Residents in affected areas could see the money land in their accounts within days.
The scheme was put into effect on January 1 and runs until 31 March, helping households cover extra heating costs during the coldest months of the year. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here
Indeed, Wales is now under a yellow warning for snow and ice until Monday, January 5.
According to the Met Office, snow showers are expected across the country, with the heaviest flurries potentially leaving a few centimetres of snow on the ground.
Some inland and higher-altitude areas could see up to 8cm of snow, and residents are being warned to expect travel disruption during the wintry conditions.
Am I eligible?
The Cold Weather Payment is aimed at households most vulnerable to freezing temperatures, as detailed on the YouGov website. You may be eligible if you receive:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
Eligibility rules vary slightly depending on the benefit:
- Pension Credit: Most recipients qualify automatically.
- Income Support or JSA: Payments usually go to those with a disability or pensioner premium, a child under 5, or a disabled child.
- ESA: Most in a work-related activity or support group qualify; others may qualify if they have a disability premium, a child under 5, or a disabled child.
- Universal Credit: Payments are usually for households where you or your partner are not employed or “gainfully self-employed” and you have a child under 5, a disabled child, or a health condition limiting your ability to work.
- SMI: Payments are available if you receive SMI and meet any of the conditions above.
Cold Weather Payments are not available in Scotland, where eligible households may receive an annual Winter Heating Payment instead.
If you’re eligible, the government website states that you do not need to apply – payments are made automatically. However, you may need to notify Jobcentre Plus if you have a new baby or a child under five moves in. The payments do not affect other benefits, and guidance is available in Welsh (Cymraeg) and in an easy-read format. You can read more here.
Below is a list of Welsh postcodes eligible for a one-off £25 Cold Weather Payment, applicable from January 1 and 2:
- CF37 – CF38: Pontypridd
- CF39 – CF43: Porth, Tonypandy, Treorchy, Ferndale
- CF44 – CF45: Aberdare, Mountain Ash
- CF46 – CF48: Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil
- CF81 – CF83: Bargoed, Hengoed, Caerphilly
- NP4, NP44: Pontypool, Cwmbran
- NP11 – NP13: Risca, Blackwood, Abertillery
- NP22 – NP24: Tredegar, Ebbw Vale, New Tredegar
- LD3: Brecon
You can also check if your postcode is eligible by searching for it on the government’ website, which can be found here.