The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced an expansion of its Cold Weather Payment scheme, with a new batch of postcodes now eligible for the vital support. This comes as the Met Office issues warnings for snow and ice, with temperatures predicted to remain at or below freezing for much of the week.
New Areas Eligible for Financial Support
Residents in several new areas can now claim the £25 payment for each seven-day period of freezing temperatures. The latest triggers, recorded on January 3, primarily benefit those in Shropshire and parts of Wales bordering England.
The newly added postcodes include SY10 for Oswestry and SY15 for Shrewsbury and its surroundings. A series of Welsh postcodes, such as LL20 for Llangollen and SY21 for Welshpool, have also been activated. This financial aid is designed to help vulnerable households cover the extra costs of heating during periods of exceptionally cold weather.
Widespread Disruption and Health Warnings
The UK is firmly in the grip of a prolonged cold spell. The Met Office has an amber weather warning for snow in place for Shetland, Orkney, and northern mainland Scotland until 10am on Monday. Some parts of Moray have already seen over 40cm of snow, with forecasts suggesting a potential further 30cm accumulation.
Travel disruption is expected across the country as people return to work and school after the Christmas break. Furthermore, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alerts for all of England until Friday. The agency warns that the severe conditions could lead to increased health risks and a rise in mortality, particularly among older people and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Check Your Postcode Eligibility
The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs annually from November 1 to March 31. Payments are made automatically to those receiving certain benefits, such as Pension Credit or Income Support. The scheme is triggered when the average temperature in a person's area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.
The latest additions join a long list of postcodes across England, Scotland, and Wales that have already been triggered for payments this season. Affected regions span from Alston in Cumbria (CA9) to Haverhill (CB9) in the east, and from Burnley (BB10-BB11) in the north to Exeter in the south-west. Residents are encouraged to check the official government website using their postcode to confirm their eligibility for the current period.
With the cold weather set to persist, the DWP's intervention provides crucial support for those most at risk during the winter months. The department has confirmed it will continue to monitor weather stations and trigger payments accordingly until the scheme closes at the end of March.
