Claimants set to benefit from Cold Weather Payments

BENEFIT claimants in parts of Carmarthenshire are set to benefit from Cold Weather Payments after temperatures plummeted this week.

Wales suffered its coldest night of the winter so far this week as temperatures fell to -7.9°C in parts of Powys on Thursday night.

The forecast is for the cold weather to continue up until the weekend.

As temperatures plummet, the first Cold Weather Payments of the winter in Wales have been activated.

The scheme, which runs from November 1 to March 31, means those receiving Pension Credit, Income Support and Universal Credit will see a payment of £25 automatically given out.

But it is only activated in areas where weather stations find the temperature has dropped, or is forecast to drop, to zero degrees for seven continuous days.

Using the UK Government postcode checker, you can see if a payment is due in your area.

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting Pension Credit, Income Support, Incomebased Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest.

Here is the full list of postcodes that have qualified for a £25 payment over the 2022-23 winter period so far, covered by the Pembrey Sands weather station:

■ SA1-8;

■ SA14-18;

■ SA31-34;

■ SA61-63

■ SA66-73 The list includes, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Ammanford and the Gwendraeth Valley.

Most people should receive the cash automatically – although there are some situations where you won’t.

There have been Met Office yellow warning for ice over large parts of Wales in the past few days and forecasters are predicting that the cold weather will continue for the next few days, with milder weather due to return at the weekend.