People with the lowest incomes in parts of the UK are getting extra cash after cold weather conditions hit the payout.
A government payment of £25 will be sent to eligible households as temperatures are expected to drop below 0C for seven consecutive days.
The Met Office warned that temperatures in rural England could “fall close to minus 10C” on Thursday.
A £25 bank top-up will arrive in an eligible person’s bank account within 14 days of being triggered, says the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
People who claim retirement credit, income support, income-tested job-seeker assistance, income-tested work and living benefits, universal credit and mortgage interest may qualify for cold weather payments, the DWP guidelines say.
It said cold weather payments had been triggered in the Northwest region, including Rochdale, Greater Manchester, parts of the Southwest such as near Exeter and Nottingham in the East Midlands, among others. Parts of Powys in East Mid Wales, Oxfordshire and Herefordshire are also affected by postal codes.
Cold weather payments are only paid in England and Wales. In Scotland, those on low or low incomes can be entitled to an annual payment of £50 for winter heating, even if this is regardless of cold temperatures. It comes after weather warnings were extended into the weekend when motorists were warned of road hazards in parts of England.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has issued a Level 3 cold weather warning for England through Monday. The Weather Service has warned motorists that winter rain over the coming days will create a dangerous layer of ice on some roads. It said some disruption was possible due to permafrost on dirt roads, sidewalks and bike paths likely to cause distractions.
Some injuries from slips and falls on the ice are also possible, he said.
The Met Office is advising the public to be more careful when driving or walking and not cycling in icy areas.
A DWP spokesperson said: “This refill payment provides support annually to help people who are experiencing the coldest weather.
“Cold weather payments may not be triggered until March, providing additional confidence to people who face a disproportionate amount of cold weather in the colder months.”