The reason Birmingham has yet to receive Cold Weather Payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been clarified. The government issues £25 payments to eligible households when temperatures are forecast to be at or below 0°C for seven consecutive days, helping residents manage increased heating costs during cold spells.
Each area is linked to a specific weather station, and the Met Office notifies the DWP when the temperature threshold is met. In Birmingham’s case, the seven-day average temperature has not dropped to freezing, so no payment has been triggered.
The forecast shows temperatures rising to highs of 4°C to 5°C between January 6 and January 9, with lows hovering just above or at freezing (0°C to 1°C). Because the average temperature across 24 hours remains above the zero-degree mark, Birmingham does not qualify for the payment.
Cold Weather Payments are provided to people in England and Wales receiving certain benefits, including Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, and Support for Mortgage Interest.
According to the DWP: “Cold Weather Payments are an automatic £25 top-up paid when the average temperature is recorded or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to an eligible person’s postcode.”
Though the DWP usually initiates payments at the start of a seven-day freezing period, this only happens if forecasts indicate sustained sub-zero averages throughout the week. That is why Birmingham, with slightly warmer daytime temperatures, has not received payments yet.
In contrast, payments are being issued in nearby areas such as Derbyshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire, where temperatures have met the criteria.
It’s important to note that the calculation is based on the average temperature over 24 hours, meaning that cold nights alone do not qualify if daytime temperatures rise enough to keep the average above freezing.
The Met Office forecasts continuing cold conditions from Wednesday through Friday, with rain, sleet, and snow moving in along with strong winds in some areas. BBC Weather adds that while temperatures will remain below the January average, milder conditions are expected in the latter half of the month, with less snow but occasional wintry weather still possible.