As Britain endures an Arctic blast, cold weather payments have been activated for several postcodes. The first significant freeze of late 2024 has seen temperatures plummet below zero.

To assist individuals in affording warmth during the cold spell, a £25 payment will be issued to some if the temperature remains low enough for a sufficient period. Those on certain benefits are now eligible for this payment to help them stay warm.

The Cold Weather Payment scheme is applicable to those in England and Wales receiving a variety of benefits. This marks the first issuance of Cold Weather Payments for the winter season of 2024/25.

Earlier this year, Labour scrapped the £200-300 winter fuel payment for over 10 million pensioners, raising concerns that some of the UK's poorest would struggle to heat their homes. Now, only those claiming Pension Credit are eligible.

In 2022, the DWP made more than 5.5 million Cold Weather Payments. According to the DWP, those claiming Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest may be eligible for the Cold Weather Payment.

Not everyone receiving these benefits will automatically qualify for a Cold Weather Payment. Various factors determine whether a payment will be made, and full details of eligibility

The Cold Weather Payments have been activated for twelve postcode areas in Cumbria, four in Northumberland, and two postcodes in the Scottish Borders that cross into England. It's estimated that around 10,000 people will receive the payment, marking the first areas to receive a Cold Weather Payment this winter.

The twelve postcode areas in Cumbria set to receive a payment include the Lakes, Kendal and Coniston, following freezing temperatures recorded at the Shap weather centre. The payment was triggered on 18 November.

The complete list of postcode areas where eligible individuals will receive a £50 Cold Weather Payment includes: CA9 Leadgate, Cumbria; CA10 Cliburn, Cumbria; CA11 Catterlen, Cumbria; CA12 Keswick, Cumbria; CA16 Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria; CA17 Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria; LA8 Kendal, Cumbria; LA9 Kendal, Cumbria; LA10 Sedbergh, Cumbria; LA21 Coniston, Cumbria; LA22 Lakes, Cumbria; LA23 Windermere, Cumbria; NE19 Elsdon, Northumberland; NE47 Allendale, Northumberland; NE48 Bellingham, Northumberland; NE49 Haltwhistle, Northumberland; TD9 Scottish Borders (parts in England); DG14 Dumfries border (parts in England).

Charities are raising the alarm over the impact of the cold snap on the most vulnerable as the Met Office declares "the first taste of winter" in the UK. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued its first amber cold weather health alert for the season, and together with Age UK, is cautioning that the chilly conditions could pose serious risks to vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly.

The amber alert spans the east and north of England, midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber, while yellow alerts are set for the South East, South West and London starting at 8am on Tuesday until 6pm on Saturday. Dr Agostinho Sousa of the UKHSA emphasised: "This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter, and it is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk."

While the DWP has yet to release a comprehensive list of postcodes receiving Cold Weather Payments this week, MPs have been informed of eligible areas within their constituencies, which can also be checked on the DWP's online search page.

Payments are activated when average temperatures in an area have been recorded at, or are forecast to be, below freezing for seven consecutive days. Eligible recipients will automatically receive £25 for each seven-day period of cold weather running across the winter period between 1 November 2023 and 31 March 2024.

Currently, a yellow snow and ice warning is in effect until 10am on Tuesday, covering Northern Ireland. Another yellow alert is active until 10am on Wednesday, covering areas in Scotland, and a third lasts until 11am on Tuesday covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the north of England.

Within these affected areas, there is a possibility of power cuts, disruption to road and public transport and the risk of injury from slipping on ice. The Alzheimer's Society has warned that cold weather can be "particularly challenging" for people with dementia.

"Colder temperatures can be difficult for a person with dementia to adjust to, and they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold - or they may not even recognise it themselves," the charity said.