Overview
- UKHSA issued amber Cold-Health Alerts for Yorkshire & Humber, the North West and the North East, warning of health risks during the first prolonged cold spell of the season.
- Cold Weather Payments remain set at £25 per seven-day period when average local temperatures are at or below 0°C for seven consecutive days between November 1 and March 31.
- Payments are automatic for eligible benefit claimants and are paid into the usual account within about 14 working days after each qualifying cold period.
- Eligibility commonly includes Pension Credit, certain income-based benefits and Universal Credit in specific circumstances, while Scotland operates a separate Winter Heating Payment not tied to weather.
- Three academics urge paying support in advance, potentially via utility firms for smart-meter users, and suggest £10 per day below −4°C, as charities warn many vulnerable households could still miss out and call for broader energy discounts or a social tariff.