FREEZING temperatures are sweeping across the UK which could make you eligible for a cold weather payment.
The free cash could help with heating costs as millions continue to battle through the cost of living crisis.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hands out the extra £25 to households in areas that have recorded an average temperature, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below over seven consecutive days.
Payments are made automatically – so you don't need to apply.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from November 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
Read our Cost of Living live blog for the latest news & updates…
- Louis Allwood
Are you eligible for this year’s £900 cost of living payment
The government is set to provide struggling Brits with £900 in cost of living payments throughout 2023.
The free cash will be paid out in three instalments and is there to help households with rising food and energy bills.
To be eligible for the cash you will need to claim one of the following benefits.
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Pension credit
- Tax credits (child tax credit and working tax credit)
- Universal Credit
Who is eligible for cold weather payments?
Households are eligible for the extra cash if they are getting the following:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- income-related employment and support allowance
- Support for mortgage interest
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to meet one or more of the following additional criteria:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
You can find out more about eligibility on the government’s website.
When to expect £900 DWP payments
Millions of Brits will be able to get their hands on the first installment of the government's £900 Cost of Living payments soon.
The Department for Work and Pension (DWP) has released expected dates for when the payments will be made this year.
The DWP have claimed that the first payment of £301 will be made during Spring, whilst the second will be made during Autumn.
Finally, the third payment of £299 will end up in eligible bank accounts during Spring 2024.
Eight million people on means-tested benefits including,Income-based jobseeker’s allowance, Income-related employment and support allowance, Income support, Pension credit, Tax credits and Universal Credit will be entitled to the support.
- Louis Allwood
Three out of five Brits concerned they don’t have enough money to get through the year
59% of the British public are concerned they will not have enough money to make it through the year comfortably, according to a poll by digital bank Monzo.
An enormous 93% also fear the cost of living crisis will get even worse in 2023.
Monzo’s Chief Operating Officer Sujata Bhatia said: “Understandably, the prospect of saving is daunting for many at the moment, but it doesn’t have to be.
“At Monzo, we know that saving small amounts over a long period of time can still have a hugely positive impact on your finances.
“Monzo customers saved over £175 million last year using our saving tools and features, such as Round-ups – meaning whenever more than £1 is spent, the difference is rounded up and added to a Savings Pot automatically – and IFTTT challenges.”
- Louis Allwood
Millions to be faced with huge council tax bills
Local authorities have been told they can hike bills by up to 5% this year.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the news in his Autumn Budget last November.
Previously local authorities were only allowed to raise council tax by 2.99%.
The announcement from the government could see 255 districts charging more than £2,000 a year on average to families in Band D homes, according to new analysis by The Telegraph and TaxPayers’ Alliance.
- Louis Allwood
One in 58 Londoners are homeless
A report published by tenant rights charity Shelter shows one in every 58 people in the nation’s capital is homeless, making London the epicentre of the homelessness crisis.
London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: “These devastating figures reveal that London remains the epicentre of the homelessness crisis.
“Everyone deserves a permanent home, but the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the capital means too many Londoners find themselves homeless and reliant temporary accommodation arranged by their local council.
‘The numbers are so high they are equivalent to the entire population of a London borough.
“We’re concerned that cost of living pressures mean this desperate situation will get even worse before it gets better. Councils across the capital are seeing more and more residents turning to us for help.
“We urgently need renewed action on tackling homelessness, especially through making better use of the welfare system to help low-income households with their housing costs and through investing in the new affordable homes our communities are crying out for.”
- Louis Allwood
Are you eligible for the £750 Scottish Power Hardship Fund?
Customers could get up to £750 in grants from Scottish Power to help with their energy bills.
You could qualify for help from the Scottish Power Hardship Fund if you’re receiving
- Income Support,
- Job Seekers Allowance,
- Pension Credit, or
- Employment and Support Allowance
If you think you’re eligible for the cash grant you can apply online and should get a response within five working days.
Find out more here
Four expert podcasts to get your finances back in shape
There are a number of ways to get your finances back in shape this year – and one of them is by making a podcast list.
You can learn and earn at the same time by tuning into a money-saving show.
Here’s four you can tune into now – so listen up.
- CASH CHATS WITH ANDY WEBB: The seasoned saver founded becleverwithyourcash.com, and it is packed with vouchers, sales and tips.
- THE MARTIN LEWIS PODCAST: Listen to Martin’s weekly show for up-to-date news about the cost-of-living crisis, especially in-depth advice on the best savings accounts, energy hikes and more.
- IN HER FINANCIAL SHOES WITH CATHERINE MORGAN: As a financial adviser and money coach, Catherine offers some original insights and has covered everything from dealing with the shame of debt to educating listeners with finance lessons.
- FRUGAL FRIENDS: Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni are mates who both love saving money.
Are you eligible for up to £1,500 in energy bill help?
British Gas is offering eligible Brits up to £1,500 in energy bill help this year, but are you eligible?
You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund – you can be a British Gas Customer, or a customer from another supplier.
To get the cash, the following must apply:
- You live in England, Scotland or Wales
- You have not received a grant from the British gas Energy Trust within the last 2 years
- You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account in your name or be a member of that household, the energy account must relate to your main residence
- You have electric and/or gas debt
- You must be in or facing fuel poverty
- You have received help from a money advice agency
To support your application you’ll need to provide evidence that you’ve received money advice in the last three months.
You’ll also need proof of your current household income.
Applications are now open, read more here.
- Louis Allwood
DWP shares tips for finding work this year
The Department of Work and Pensions has shared some essential tips for finding a new job this year.
On its website, the DWP outlined several key steps to take before applying for a new job.
- “Do your research – Make sure you research the company or sector you are interested in. Don’t submit an application without drilling into the finer details of a vacancy. ”
- “Update your CV – Tailor your CV to the role you are applying for. Many of your skills will be transferable, so make sure you are highlighting relevant experience.”
- “Think about what works for you – Whether you are looking for a full-time workplace-based role or part-time role with more flexibility, you can find a job that suits your circumstances.
- “Be flexible – Why not explore opportunities in a new industry? There could be the perfect new role just waiting for you. Don’t worry if you don’t have experience in this sector, the skills you already have could be used in a new role”
Read the rest of the tips here.
- Louis Allwood
£150 disability cost of living payment to hit bank accounts this summer
As the cost of living soars and inflation continues to rise, the government is set to provide a number of cash boosts to struggling Brits.
Over six million people with disabilities will receive a £150 payment come the summer.
The exact eligibility criteria for getting the payment have not been revealed yet.
But those who qualified for last year’s £150 bill help received one of the following benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
How to get free appliances this winter
Brits are only now finding out they can get their hands on free home appliances with this handy government scheme.
Utilita is giving its customers appliances worth up to £400 if they are eligible for the Warm Home Discount.
The Warm Home Discount is available to those on the lowest incomes to help the soaring cost of living in Britain.
The goods are available to around 5,500 customers.
Eligible households have been contacted directly by Utilita.
DWP issues warning
The Government revealed a second batch of cost of living payments will be paid out to millions.
It will include £900, £300 and £150 payments spread across this year and into 2024.
Households are due to receive the first part of the £900 means-tested payment this spring, worth £301.
But the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), responsible for issuing the payments, says scammers could be looking to capitalise on people not knowing how the payments are made.
In social media posts shared on Facebook and Twitter, the DWP said: "Watch out for scammers targeting people about cost of living payments."
Your thermostat could be adding hundreds to your energy bill
It’s important that your thermostat is placed in the right room and location of your house, or else, this might be one of those things adding hundreds to your energy bill.
The device shouldn’t be placed in the coldest room of your house or else it might trick you into turning it up even more.
Placing a thermostat in a room like a bathroom can mess with its readings as temperatures are inconsistent in a place like that.
Even placing it by the window.
Your thermostat should be placed in the most used room of your house such as the living room or the bedroom.
Have you been struggling to pay for your shopping?
As inflation continues to soar, it can be a struggle to pay for your weekly shopping.
However, the government is set to provide a series of benefits that make the rising cost of living easier to overcome.
Via the household support fund, councils across Britain are offering both free cash and supermarket vouchers.
- Henry Moore
How much do Microwaves cost to run?
Running a microwave will cost you around 5.7p per ten minutes of use.
Of course, this depends on the model and which settings you use, but this is based on an appliance with 1,000w power.
Microwaves are considered more cost-effective than traditional ovens.
- Henry Moore
How much is Child Benefit set to rise by?
Parents are set for an increase in their Child Benefit payments come April, but how much could you be set to receive?
Well, the current rate for your eldest or only child is £21.80 per week. That’s £87.20 a month or £1,133.60 a year.
From April 2023 the rate for your eldest or only child will go up to £24 a week – or £96 a month and £1,248 a year.
This is an increase of £2.20 a week, £8.80 a month and £114.40 a year.
On top of this, your younger children will get £14.45 a week – £57.80 a month and £751.40 a year.
Find out more here.
- Henry Moore
How much do kettles cost to run?
Kettles cost around 17p, per ten minutes of use.
That's based on one with a power rating of 3,000W, so the exact amount depends on your particular one.
The trick to avoiding losing cash when boiling the kettle is to avoid overfilling.
Tashema Jackson, consumer champion at energyhelpline, previously told The Sun: "Adjusting how much water you use and the temperature you boil your water to, can save you around £6 a year."
- Henry Moore
Should you run your dishwasher at night to save cash?
As bills continue to rise, Brits are looking for ways to save every possible penny.
With that in mind, Economy 7 and 10 tariffs charge customers different rates depending on when they use their energy.
You pay more in the day and less in the evening.
If you are on an Economy 7 tariff, you’ll pay the lesser rate for seven hours and 10 hours if you are on an Economy 10 tariff.
You pay the higher rate during the remaining hours of the day.
The tariffs can help you save money if you have a storage heater or you use your energy during off-peak hours.
This means you can save money by running your device at night.
However, putting your dishwasher on at night is a well-documented fire-safety risk, so it is best to avoid doing so.
- Henry Moore
Over one million Sky Mobile customers set to be hit with price hike
From February 14, bills for Sky Mobile's out-of-contract customers will increase by £1 a month, or an average of 9%.
Sky said the rise follows the current rate of inflation, which is 10.7%.
A Sky Mobile spokesperson said: "This is not a decision we have taken lightly.
"We try to provide our customers with as much value as possible which is why our data plans have not increased in price for five years.
"However due to increased cost pressures the majority of our mobile tariffs are increasing by £1, with the average percentage increase being below levels of inflation."
If your contract is currently locked in you won't be affected and if you are unhappy with the change Sky say you leave penalty-free.
Find out more here.
- Henry Moore
Martin Lewis issues bill warning as costs set to rise
Martin Lewis confirmed once again today that bills are set to rise in April.
Martin said: "The only chance it will get cheaper is if the Energy Price Cap – which is the price the regulator sets – were to drop below the Energy Price Guarantee.
"The talk of energy prices coming down – they will go up, and then they will come down.
"But the likelihood is they will still be higher than they are now, unless the wholesale rate continues to fall."
Currently, the average household pays £2,500 a year for their energy bill.
This will rise to £3,000 from April when the Energy Price Guarantee ends.
- Henry Moore
DWP shares tips for finding work this year
The Department of Work and Pensions has shared some essential tips for finding a new job this year.
On its website, the DWP outlined several key steps to take before applying for a new job.
- “Do your research – Make sure you research the company or sector you are interested in. Don’t submit an application without drilling into the finer details of a vacancy. ”
- “Update your CV – Tailor your CV to the role you are applying for. Many of your skills will be transferable, so make sure you are highlighting relevant experience.”
- “Think about what works for you – Whether you are looking for a full-time workplace-based role or part-time role with more flexibility, you can find a job that suits your circumstances.
- “Be flexible – Why not explore opportunities in a new industry? There could be the perfect new role just waiting for you. Don’t worry if you don’t have experience in this sector, the skills you already have could be used in a new role”
Read the rest of the tips here.
- Henry Moore
Who is eligible for cold weather payments?
Households are eligible for the extra cash if they are getting the following:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- income-related employment and support allowance
- Support for mortgage interest
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to meet one or more of the following additional criteria:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
You can find out more about eligibility on the government's website.
Every postcode eligible for the Cold Weather Payment so far
As the weather gets colder, the Government is offering households £25 to help with bills.
Here's the full list of postcodes that have qualified for a £25 payment over the 2022-23 winter period so far.
- Albemarie – DH1-7, DH9, DL4-5, DL14-17, NE1-13, NE15-18, NE20-21, NE23, NE25-46, SR1-7, TS21, TS28-29
- Almondsbury – BS1-11, BS13-16, BS20-24, BS29-32, BS34-37, BS39-41, BS48-49, GL11-13, NP16, NP26
- Andrewsfield – CB1-5, CB10-11, CB21-25, CM1-9, CM11-24, CM77, CO9, RM4, SG8-11
- Bainbridge – BD23-24, DL8, DL11-13
- Benson – HP5-23, HP27, OX9,OX10,OX33, OX39,OX44, OX49, RG9, SL7-9
- Bingley – BB4, BB8-12, BB18, BD1-22, HD3, HD7-9, HX1-7, LS21, LS29, OL13-14, S36
- Boscombe Down -BA12, RG28, SO20-23,SP1-5, SP7, SP9-11
- Bramham – HG1–5, LS1-20, LS22-28, YO1, YO8, YO10, YO19, YO23-24, YO26, YO30-32, YO41-43, YO51, YO60-61
- Brize Norton – OX1-6, OX8, OX11-14, OX18, OX20, OX25-29, SN7
- Capel Curig – LL24-25, LL41.
- Carlise – CA1-8, DG12, DG16
- Charlwood – BN5-6, BN44, GU5-6, ME6, ME14-20, RH1-20, TN1-20, TN22, TN27
- Charterhall – NE71.
- Chivenor – EX23, EX31-34, EX39.
- Coleshill – B1-21, B23-38, B40, B42-50, B60-80, B90-98, CV1-12, CV21-23, CV31-35, CV3 CV47, DY1-14, LE10, WS1-15, WV1-16
- Dunkeswell Aerodrome – DT6-8, EX13-15, TA21.
- Exeter Airport – EX1-12, EX24, TQ1-6, TQ9, TQ12, TQ14
- Fylingdales – YO13, YO18, YO21-22, YO62
- Hawarden Airport – CH1-8, LL11-14, SY14
- Hereford – GL1-6, GL10, GL14-20, GL50-53, HR1-9, NP7-8, NP15, NP25, SY8, WR1-11, WR13-15
- Herstmonceux – BN7-8, BN20-24, BN26-27, TN21, TN31-40.
- Hurn – BH1-25, BH31, DT1-2, DT11, SP6
- Keele – CW1-3, CW5, CW 12, ST1-8, ST11-12, ST14-21
- Lake Vrnwy – LL20-21, LL23, SY10, SY15-17, SY19, SY21-22
- Leconfield – DN14, HU1-20, YO11-12, YO14-17, YO25.
- Leek Thorncliffe – DE4, DE45, S32-33, SK13, SK17, SK22-23, ST9-10, ST13
- Leeming – DL1-DL3, DL6,DL7, DL9, DL10, TS9, S16 YO7
- Libanus – NP4, NP11-13, NP22-24, NP44, SA9
- Liscombe – EX16, EX35-36, TA22, TA24.
- Little Rissington – CV36, GL54-56, OX7, OX15-17, WR12
- Llysdinam – LD1-2, LD4-8, SA19-20, SY7, SY9, SY18
- Marham – CB6-7, IP24-28, PE12-14, PE30-38
- Morpeth, Cockle Park – NE22, NE24, NE61-70.
- Nottingham – CV13, DE1-3, DE5-7, DE11-15, DE21-24, DE55-56, DE65, DE72-75, LE1-9, LE11-14, LE16-19, LE65, LE67, NG1-22, NG25, NG31-34
- Odiham – GU1-4, GU7-35, GU46-47, GU51-52, RG1-2, RG4-8, RG10, RG12, RG14, RG18-27, RG29-31, RG40-42, RG45, SL1-2, SL4-6, SO24
- Pembury Sands – SA1-8, SA14-18, SA31-34, SA61-63, SA66-73
- Redesdale – CA9, DH8, NE19, NE47-49
- Rochdale – L0-9, M24, M26, OL1-12, OL15-16,SK15
- Rostherne – CW4, CW6-11, M1-9, M11-23, M25, M27-35, M38, M40-41, M43-46, M50, M90, PR7, SK1-12, SK14, SK16, WA1-16, WN1-8
- Rothamsted – AL1-10, EN6, HP1-4, LU1-7, SG1-4, SG12-14, WD3-7, WD17-19, WD23-25
- Shap – CA10-12, CA16-17, LA8-10, LA21-23
- Shawbury – SY1-6, SY11-13, TF1-13
- Sheffield – DN1–8, DN11-12,HD1-2, HD4-6, S1-14, S17-18, S20-21, S25-26, S35, S40-45, S60-66, S70-75, S80-81, WF1-17.
- Stonyhurst – BB1-3, BB5-7, LA2, LA6-7, PR6
- Stowe – NN1-7 NN11-13, MK18
- Tibenham – NR1-35
- Trawsgoed – LL35-40, SY20, SY23-25
- Waddington – DN9-10, DN13, DN15-22, DN31-41, LN1-13, NG23-24, PE10-11, PE20-25.
- Walney Island – LA1, LA3-5, LA11-20
- Wattisham – CB8-9, CO1-8, CO10-16, IP1-23, IP29-33
- Westonbirt – BA1-3, BA11, BA13-15, GL7-9, RG17, SN1-6, SN8-16, SN25-26
- Wittering – LE15, NN14-18, PE1-9, PE15-17, PE26-29
- Woburn – MK1-17, MK19, MK40-46, NN8-10, NN29, PE19, SG5-7, SG15-19
- Yeovilton – BA4-10, BA16, BA20-22, BS25-28, DT9-10, SP8, TA1-20, TA23
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government tool on its website.
What temperature should your thermostat be to save on bills?
When it comes to your thermostat, the Energy Saving Trust recommends you should set it to the "lowest comfortable temperature".
For the majority of us, this is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
This should keep your house relatively warm, while also cutting down those bills.
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