DWP Cold Weather Payment Universal Credit claimants in employment, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): The Department for Work and Pensions says Universal Credit claimants could receive a Cold Weather Payment even if they are in employment, under one specific scenario. The DWP has brought back £25 Cold Weather Payments, which apply from November 1.
Under DWP rules, people may receive Cold Weather Payments if they receive certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. Eligible people are paid automatically and do not need to apply, but they may need to report a change in circumstances if they have a baby or if a child under 5 comes to live with them.
Universal Credit claimants typically receive the payment if they are unemployed or not self-employed. However, the DWP says that if a disabled child lives with the claimant, it does not matter whether they are employed or not.
A payment may be made if the average temperature in an area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days. Claimants will receive £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027.
Money Saving Expert, the consumer finance website founded by Martin Lewis, said people do not need to take any action to receive the payments. According to the site, eligible people should be paid automatically for any seven-day period of freezing weather.
The site also said that people unsure whether the temperature threshold has been met in their area can use the government’s postcode checker. Payments are expected within 14 working days of each cold weather period and are paid into the same bank or building society account as benefit or pension payments.
In Scotland, the payment is made in December and January as a flat £62 lump sum.
The DWP advises anyone who believes they should have received a Cold Weather Payment but did not to contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus. Universal Credit claimants can sign in to their online account and add a note to their journal, or call the Universal Credit helpline if they do not have an online account.
The phone number is on letters about their Universal Credit claim.
