The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a reminder for benefit claimants to check their bank accounts, as a one-off payment of £25 may soon be deposited. This payment is part of the Cold Weather Payment scheme, designed to assist individuals during periods of extreme cold. Experts are concerned that many eligible recipients might overlook this additional cash, which is distributed automatically.
Under the Cold Weather Payment scheme, individuals receiving any of six specified benefits can qualify for this payment. Eligibility hinges on meeting certain conditions, particularly when temperatures dip below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days. This automatic payment can easily go unnoticed, particularly for those who do not regularly monitor their account statements.
Fiona Peake, a personal finance expert at Ocean Finance, highlighted that vulnerable groups are at risk of missing these funds. “One of the groups most at risk of not realizing they’ve had a Cold Weather Payment are people on benefits that qualify but who don’t monitor small deposits into their bank account,” she noted. Peake identified several circumstances where individuals might fail to notice the payment, including changes in address, switching bank accounts, or infrequent checking of bank statements.
The £25 payment appears on bank statements with the code ‘DWP CWP’ for residents in England and ‘SSA DWP’ for those in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the Cold Weather Payment scheme has been replaced by the Winter Heating Payment, which provides a one-off sum of £59.75 regardless of the weather conditions.
To determine if a Cold Weather Payment has been triggered in their area, individuals can use the postcode checker available on the Government website. While those on Pension Credit typically qualify, other benefits, such as Universal Credit, have additional criteria. For instance, Universal Credit recipients may only receive the payment if they are not employed or gainfully self-employed, and their partner must also meet similar restrictions. Furthermore, one of the following conditions must apply: either the individual or their partner must have a health condition or disability that limits their capacity to work, or they must have a child under the age of five living with them. If a child has a disability, the payment is usually granted regardless of employment status.
Peake advised those who believe they are eligible yet have not received the payment to reach out to the Pension Service, Jobcentre Plus, or the Universal Credit helpline for assistance. She emphasized the importance of being proactive in checking eligibility and ensuring that potential funds are not missed during the cold weather season.
In summary, as temperatures drop, claimants should remain vigilant about their bank accounts to ensure they receive the support intended for them through the Cold Weather Payment scheme.
