Cold weather payments triggered as freezing -3C temperatures expected to hit Kent - here's who qualifies
It comes as Level 3 Weather Warnings have been issued by the Met Office for certain parts of the country
Updated 11:27, 9 DEC 2022
Cold weather payments have been triggered and residents in over 300 postcode areas across England and Wales could be entitled to £25. But will people in Kent be eligible?
The payments are handed out by the Department for Work and Pensions when winter temperatures consecutively dip below a certain level. The payment accumulates when the average temperature in your area is recorded, or forecasted, to dip below zero degrees celsius for over seven consecutive days.
It comes as Level 3 Weather Warnings have been issued by the Met Office for certain parts of the country. The warning is in place for most of Wales, the southwest of England, the east of England, northern England, Northern Ireland and large parts of Scotland until Monday, December 12.
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A cold weather front is blowing in from the north and although Kent has not got any weather warnings, the temperature is expected to fall as low as -3C overnight until next Monday although forecasts may change. Even during the day, temperatures will struggle to reach above 2C.
Does Kent qualify for the payment?
At the time of writing, there are no payments available in Kent. But this may change when the cold snap hits.
If you want to check whether your area is triggered you can check online with the government's postcode checker winter fuel payments tool. Click HERE to check yourself.
Temperatures in Kent will struggle to stay above freezing, the Met Office predicts (Image: PA Media)
Who is eligible for Cold Weather Payment?
According to the MEN, you may be considered for eligibility if you're receiving one of the following:
income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Support for Mortgage Interest
You will generally automatically receive Cold Weather Payments if you are claiming Pension Credit.
Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
You may receive Cold Weather Payments if you receive Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and have any of the 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 the age of five living with you
You may get Cold Weather Payments if you receive income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group. However, if you're not in either of these, you may still be able to receive the payments if you have any of the following:
A severe or enhanced disability premium
A pensioner premium
You may receive Cold Weather Payments while claiming Universal Credit and are not in employment. However, 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 the age of five living with you
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
You may receive Cold Weather Payments while getting SMI and have any of the following:
How to claim a Cold Weather Payment
According to the government, there is no need to apply for a Cold Weather Payment. The scheme is currently being ran from November 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 - in that time you can search via the DWP to see if you could receive the payment in your area.
If you are eligible, you should receive the payment automatically. However, if you have not received the payment yet and believe you should have, then you should tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
If you receive Universal Credit payments, then you can sign into your online account and add a note into your journal. Otherwise, you can ring the Universal Credit helpline (the phone number of which should be on letters about your Universal Credit claim).
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