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Cold snap triggers further Cold Weather Payments

Wednesday, 11 February 2009

The Department for Social Development is to make more Cold Weather Payments following extremely low temperatures recorded over the last week in parts of Northern Ireland.

Payment was triggered by information supplied by the Met Office from its Katesbridge weather station, indicating sub-zero temperatures over a seven-day period from

3 February 2009 to 9 February 2009. The following postal areas of Northern Ireland were affected by the cold spell: BT24-28, BT30-35, BT60-68 and BT71.

Margaret Ritchie, Minister for Social Development, welcomed this further additional help and said: “This £25.00 payment will be paid automatically by the Social Security Agency to qualifying groups in the affected areas. There is no need to make a claim.  

Those qualifying are people in receipt of Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income based) or Employment and Support Allowance (Income related) for one day during the period of cold weather, who already receive a relevant pensioner or disability premium, or have a child under the age of 5.

The Cold Weather Payments will be made either by direct payment to customer accounts or by cheque and it is anticipated that customers will receive their payment on 19 February 2009.

Notes to Editors:

  1. Cold Weather Payments are triggered when the daily temperature is, or is forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below, for a period of seven consecutive days. The temperature measurement is made by five meteorological stations located at Aldergrove, Ballykelly, Castlederg, Katesbridge, and Enniskillen.
  2. The payments are made automatically and people do not have to make a claim. This is the second Cold Weather Payment period triggered in Northern Ireland this winter, the first being in early January 2009.
  3. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496, or Social Security Agency Customer Enquiries on 028 9082 9484. Out of office hours please contact Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.