The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice with temperatures taking a dip over recent days and well into this new week.
If you're receiving certain benefits, you could qualify for extra money for each week the mercury dips and there is very cold weather in your area.
Cold Weather Payments may be available to people in certain postcodes across Northern Ireland. The Department for Communities reopened the Cold Weather Payment scheme late last year and it runs from 1 November 2024 to 31 March 2025.
READ MORE:NI postcode areas entitled to cold weather payments when temperatures drop
READ MORE: New weather warning for snow issued across Northern Ireland
Those in receipt of certain benefits will get a payment if the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
People will be able to receive £25 for every seven day period that temperatures are below freezing and you do not need to apply, if you’re eligible, you’ll be paid it automatically.
NI Direct says after each period of very cold weather in your area, you "should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments." NI Direct have confirmed Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits.
What is the Cold Weather Payment scheme?
The Cold Weather Payment scheme reopened on 1 November 2024 and runs to 31 March 2025. You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.
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 seven consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
The Cold Weather Payment checker will help you see if you are entitled to a payment in your area.
What will you get?
You’ll get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days.
It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments. Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits.
You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Pension Credit
You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Pension Credit.
Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
You will usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and have any of 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 five living with you
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
You will usually receive Cold Weather Payments if you get income-related Employment and Support Allowance 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 five living with you
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
You will usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)(external link opens in a new window / tab) and 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 five living with you
Universal Credit
You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit, and none of the adults on your claim are employed or self-employed. One of the following must also apply:
- you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work
- you have a child under five living with you
You will also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you are employed or not.
How will you be paid?
You will receive your Cold Weather Payment in the same way as you usually receive your benefit.
How do you claim?
You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid automatically.
What happens if a baby or child under five comes to live with you?
You need to tell the office that pays your benefit if you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you need to:
- sign in to your account(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- record a change of circumstances in your Universal Credit account to have the baby or child under five added to your claim
- add a note to your journal advising of your change
If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit claim.
You will not automatically get Cold Weather Payments if you do not.
What do you do if you don't receive your Cold Weather Payment?
Tell the Northern Ireland Pension Centre or your local Jobs and Benefits office if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account(external link opens in a new window / tab) and add a note to your journal.
If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit claim.
What about hospital stays?
Tell the Northern Ireland Pension Centre or your local Jobs and Benefits office if you go into hospital - this could affect your payment.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account(external link opens in a new window / tab) and add a note to your journal.
If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit.
What areas are currently eligible for the latest Cold Weather Payments?
Cold weather payments were triggered for the following postcode areas: Katesbridge (BT24 to BT26 and BT30 to BT34) – 4 January to 10 January 2025.
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