Cold weather has been forecasted throughout this week and into the next, meaning it could trigger the requirement for Cold Weather Payments to be issued

Households who claim benefits have been told to check their bank accounts for special payments that could arrive this month. February is the last month of winter and often brings chilly temperatures.

This year is no different, cold health alerts already issued this month for some parts of the UK. In times of very cold weather, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issues Cold Weather Payments to help households pay for energy bills.

The special payments are worth £25 and are only issued when seven days of consecutive cold weather takes place or has forecasted to take place. The temperature must be 0C or below for that period in order to trigger the payments.

READ MORE: UK issued new cold weather alert over 4-day ‘Arctic blast’

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Cold health alerts were issued for some parts of England over the weekend. Now forecasters have predicted temperatures to dip into the minuses later this week.

It could mean the conditions to trigger Cold Weather Payments will be met. Weather maps from WX Charts show freezing temperatures throughout Thursday tomorrow (February 13), dropping to 0C and dipping to -1C at times in the day. It’s set to remain cold on Friday (February 14), dipping to -1C and -2C at times in the day, while northern Scotland could experience -3C.

According to wxcharts.com, the temperature is set to dip to 0C and below across England, Scotland and Wales all the way to Tuesday, February 18, before it gets warmer on Wednesday. Households who can expect to receive Cold Weather Payments are those already in receipt of certain benefits.

This includes Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit. Find out more about eligibility here.

At present, no cold health alerts – which are issued by the UK Health Security Agency – are in place. However in its outlook for Thursday, the Met Office said: “Rather cloudy and cold again with patchy rain and hill snow in the northeast.

“Best of any brightness in the northwest. Cloudier in the far southwest with rain arriving later.”

Meanwhile for its forecast from Friday until Sunday, the Met Office added: “Remaining often cloudy with patchy rain and hill snow at times. An increasing risk of some heavier rain in the far west on Friday. A cold easterly breeze continuing.”