Salford postcodes eligible for cold weather payments as temperatures drop

Sub-zero temperatures across Salford and Greater Manchester have triggered cold weather payments for eligible households this week.

The Government-funded scheme was set up to help those on benefits by giving a £25 payment to those help them stay warm.

Those eligible for the payments will receive money when the average temperature in their area is recorded as or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.

Greater Manchester is among the areas which have passed the threshold as weather stations recorded subzero temperatures over the last few days.

The Department for Work and Pensions says those claiming the following benefits may be eligible for the Cold Weather Payment; Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Support for Mortgage Interest.

You can search the map below to see if your area is eligible.

The Government confirmed that this year’s scheme started on November 1, 2023 and will continue to run until March 31, 2024. That means you could receive the £25 payment across a four-month period as long as the correct weather conditions are met.

Mixed opinions from across Greater Manchester have been shared on Facebook about the scheme, with some “grateful for the payment” whereas others were not so easily pleased saying “why should people be grateful, we are being robbed blind by the energy companies” claiming that “the Government could do a lot better to deal with the cost of living.”

Eligible recipients will be paid automatically – there’s no need to send in any application to receive them. Any period until March 31, 2024 where temperatures reach qualifying levels will result in you receiving the extra cash. The payment should arrive within 14 working days after the period of cold weather.

If you have not received the payment and believe you should have, then you should tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus. In the case that you are receiving Universal Credit, the Government advises you to log into your online account and add a note to your journal – otherwise, you can call the Universal Credit helpline whose number appears on letters regarding your Universal Credit claim.

You can see all the details on the scheme here.