As freezing temperatures grip the nation, thousands of Britons could be missing out on crucial financial support designed to help with heating costs during cold spells.
Who is at risk of missing payments?
According to personal finance expert Fiona Peake from Ocean Finance, three specific groups are particularly vulnerable to not receiving their £25 Cold Weather Payments. These payments, which returned in November, are automatically issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) but can easily be missed by eligible recipients.
Ms Peake highlighted the main risk groups: "People who are moving between addresses, those who have changed bank accounts, and individuals not checking their bank statements regularly" are all in danger of overlooking the payment.
Why are payments being missed?
The problem stems from the payment's automatic nature and relatively small amount. The DWP issues £25 for each seven-day period of cold weather, meaning multiple payments might appear during prolonged cold snaps.
Ms Peake explained: "Because the payment is automatic you don't need to apply, but this also means people might not be actively looking for it. The £25 amount could get buried among other payments, especially if you have regular debits or credits coming from your account."
She particularly emphasised that benefit claimants who don't monitor small deposits are among those most likely to miss noticing the payment entirely.
Current weather conditions and outlook
The warning comes as the UK experiences a significant cold snap, with temperatures plunging to minus 11°C overnight in the Scottish Highlands at Loch Glascarnoch. Much of the country saw temperatures drop below minus 7°C according to Met Office records.
Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge provided some relief, stating: "Friday is really the end of the really cold weather as things turn back to average by the time we get into the weekend."
He attributed the recent chill to "a little ridge of high pressure moving across the UK overnight", noting that lighter winds had contributed to the sharp temperature drop. While widespread frost continues to affect morning conditions, afternoons are expected to bring sunshine before temperatures moderate.
The combination of ongoing cold weather and the risk of missed payments creates additional financial pressure on households during what has been an unusually cold November period.
