One of the biggest schemes helping people with their heating costs has ended - but you could still receive the payments if you were eligible but didn't get one. More than five million households were paid a £25 cold weather payment by the UK Government for every week in which temperatures in their area fell below zero degrees for more than seven consecutive days, or was forecasted to do so.
The scheme ran from November 1 to March 31 and many houses received multiple payments in that time. Eligible households included those where residents were on pension credit, income support, income-based Jobseeker's allowance, universal credit and support for mortgage interest.
This should have been paid automatically to eligible houses but there is still a way to receive the payments if you think you were entitled to one. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
Read more: Why our energy bills are still going up even when wholesale prices are going down
What can I do if I didn't receive a payment?
You should tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus if you think you should've received a payment but haven't. If you're receiving universal credit, you should sign in to your account and add a note to your journal. If you don't have an online account, you can phone the universal credit helpline from the number on letters about your claim.
One reason you might not have received the payment is if you're on income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or income-related employment and support allowance and have had a baby, or a child under five has come to live with you. If you're eligible for the payment in these circumstances you will only get the payments if you tell Jobcentre Plus.
When will the scheme be running again?
The scheme will resume for the 2023/24 winter period on November 1, 2023 when you can check if your area is due a payment. Around 80% of this winter's payments were triggered in December, the Department for Work and Pensions said. The DWP estimates that more than £130m was paid out to households in England and Wales this winter.
The payments are based on the temperature at the weather station linked to your postcode, meaning you can receive the payment if the temperature drops or is forecasted to be below zero at your relevant weather station, even if it's warmer at your actual house.
Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said: "Cold weather payments provide vital support to help people through cold snaps each Winter. While those colder months are now thankfully behind us, there will be no let-up in our extensive support for households across the country.
"This government is committed to helping the most vulnerable in our society. We’re delivering the biggest state pension increase in history and boosting benefits by over ten per cent, while our energy price guarantee will continue to hold down people’s energy bills."
Other upcoming support from the DWP for UK households includes a payment of £301 between April 25 and May 17, the first of three sums for those eligible and on means-tested benefits in 2023/24. Eligible disabled people will receive payments of £150 later in the year, and pensioners will receive £300, meaning a pensioner on eligible benefits with certain disabilities could receive up to £1,350. You can find out more about cost of living payments here.
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