Wales woke up to a snow-covered landscape on Wednesday morning, with over 130 schools in Wales closed as temperatures plummeted.
The Met Office put yellow weather warnings in place for ice and snow for Thursday and Friday.
The Rhigos Mountain Pass was closed on Wednesday and Thornhill Road, near Caerphilly Mountain, was impassable, causing traffic problems.
The cold weather will have forced many people to turn on their heating, despite reluctance due to increased energy bills.
However, financial support schemes and extra help are available through the cold weather payment.
You may be eligible for the Cold Weather Payment if you claim certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.
To trigger the payment, the temperature in your area must be recorded as or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
For each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31, you will receive £25. People who claim certain benefits will automatically receive £25 if this happens.
If you are on Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest, you will qualify for the payment.
If you receive Universal Credit and are not employed or self-employed, you will also usually receive the payment, provided you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work or have a child under five living with you.
You should receive the payment within 14 working days after each period of very cold weather in your area.
The payment will be paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.
The Cold Weather Payment will not affect your other benefits.
You will not automatically receive Cold Weather Payments and must tell Jobcentre Plus if you get income support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and either you’ve had a baby or a child under five has come to live with you.
»Wales citizens to enjoy Cold Weather Payments as temperatures drop«
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