Local MP Alan Campbell has just been notified that Cold Weather Payments have been triggered for postcodes NE25/NE26/NE27/NE29/NE30.

Cold Weather Payments are made to recipients of selected benefits including;

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit

To “trigger” the payments the average temperature at a specified weather station must be recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.  £25 will be paid to every resident within these postcodes and who are eligible.

Alan Campbell said “I would urge all local people to make sure they are safe in what looks like being a period of extreme weather.  Please also take the time to check up on elderly family and neighbours.”