People across the UK can now apply for a £25 payment thanks to Storm Christoph and the latest cold weather.

There is a list of postcodes, updated this week, and if your home falls into the list you could be eligible for the free handout.

Cold Weather Payments come in addition to pensioners' annual £200 Winter Fuel Allowance, reports the Mirror, and are available to people who claim benefits such as Universal Credit.

Baroness Stedman-Scott at the Department for Work and Pensions, said: "Keeping warm throughout the winter is hugely important to staying healthy, which is why we pay to help heat homes when there’s a sustained cold snap.

"As well as Cold Weather Payments, we also run the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Winter Fuel Payments, so we have a number of schemes in place to help."

If you're experiencing freezing weather in your area, check if you're owed money by entering your postcode here.

After each period of very cold weather, the eligible person should receive a payment within 14 working days.

And you can contact your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but didn't.

The Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 9344 can also be used.

The scheme is offered to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit or certain employment benefits.

The average temperature in your area needs to have been 0˚C or less for seven consecutive days.

Postcodes that have been triggered this week

Braemar

Braemar

Redesdale

Aboyne

Aviemore

Loch Glascarnoch

Tulloch Bridge

Postcodes that have been triggered already this winter

You should receive the energy refund within two weeks.

Week ending 31 December

Tulloch Bridge

Aviemore

Braemar

Loch Glascarnoch

Eskdalemuir

Salsburgh

Shap

Auchincruive

Week ending January 7

Achnagart

Carlisle

Redesdale

Cassley

Tulloch Bridge

Bingley

Edinburgh Gogarbank

Leek Thorncliffe

Little Rissington

Rostherne

  • CW4, CW6-11
  • M1-9, M11-23, M25, M27-35, M38, M40-41, M43-46, M50, M90
  • PR7
  • SK1-12, SK14, SK16
  • WA1-16
  • WN1-8

Stonyhurst

Threave

Aviemore

Braemar

Loch Glascarnoch

Eskdalemuir

Shap

Katesbridge

Week end January 14

Bainbridge

Redesdale

Stathallen Airfield

Machrihanish

Little Rissington

Threave

Salsburgh

Auchincruive

Tredegar Bryn Bach Park

Eskdalemuir

Loch Glascarnoch

Tullock Bridge