The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Cold Weather Payment scheme has opened today, granting households a cash boost during a wintery spell.

The scheme runs until March, and people are awarded £25 per seven days if the average temperature in their area falls to zero degrees or below.

The £25 payments are paid automatically to households receiving certain means-tested benefits.

The money will appear on bank statements within 14 days of each seven days of very cold weather between November…