Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has announced that constituents living in the DH8 and DL13 postcodes are eligible for cold weather payments.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from 1st November 2020 to the 31st March 2021 and those eligible receive payments if the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days. For each seven-day period of very cold weather, those eligible receive £25.
You may get cold weather payments if you receive:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal credit
- Support for mortgage interest
The trigger period for the DH8 postcode covered the 27th December 2020 to the 2nd January 2021. You do not need to apply and will be paid the money automatically if you are eligible.
Another trigger period for the DH8 and DL13 postcode covered the period from 2/1/2021 to 9/1/2021.
However, if you get income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance or income-related employment support allowance and have had a baby or a child under five has come to live with you, the payment will not be automatically triggered until you inform your jobcentre. If you think you should receive the payment and do not, please contact your pension centre, jobcentre office or Richard’s office for assistance.
You can find out more about cold weather payment estimates here and you can find out further information, as well as whether you are eligible, here.
Commenting, Richard said:
“The Cold Weather Payment scheme is a really brilliant one that has been set up to ensure people have extra cash to go towards heating during the winter months. If you’re eligible, you receive the money automatically which, for many people, can take a lot of the financial pressure off when bills need to be paid.
“The Government implemented many financial schemes during 2020 to ensure that people do not face financial hardships throughout the pandemic.
“If you are eligible and do not receive the money please do get in touch with your pension centre, your jobcentre or my office – we will be delighted to help those eligible get access to this really important financial support.”
You can sign up to Richard’s newsletter and hear more about the work he is doing for North West Durham here or by using the form on this page.
