As the cold and icy weather continues to blight many parts of Wales, thousands of households are eligible for payments
As temperatures plummet below freezing across the UK there are thousands of households which are eligible for cash under a UK Government scheme. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said 451 postcodes in Wales, England and Northern Ireland will be able to claim Cold Water Payments due to recent icy conditions.
For the households that are eligible for the payment, the scheme enables people to receive £25 for every seven-day period when temperatures drop to zero degrees Celsius or below. Those living in affected areas could receive the payment within days.
Running between January 1 and March 31, the scheme enables households to help cover heating costs during the cold snap. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here
There are yellow weather warning is in place for parts of Wales for snow and ice until Tuesday, January 6, with fears the cold snap will go beyond that date.
The Met Office said snow showers are expected to push forward across Wales with rain and sleet likely on the coasts.
Many places could see 1cm to 3cm of snow develop with the potential for 5cm to 8cm in inland and higher parts of Wales, with icy stretches likely to form.
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 4:
- 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
- LL20 -LL21: Llangollen, Corwen
- LL23: Bala
- SY15-SY17: Montgomery, Newtown, Caersws
- SY19: Llanbrynmair
- SY21-SY22: Welshpool, Llanymynech
You can also check if your postcode is eligible by searching for it on the government’ website, which can be found here.
