PEOPLE on selected benefits in the Keighley area became eligible for Cold Weather Payments thanks to the recent freezing conditions affecting the district.

To trigger these payments the average temperature at a specified weather station must be recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees centigrade or below for seven consecutive days.

The alert for these payments was triggered yesterday (Dec 14) for the period December 7 to December 13.

It should mean that £25 will be paid to eligible residents within Keighley constituency living in the Postcode districts BD16, BD20, BD21, BD22 and LS29.

Keighley MP John Grogan said: "Payments should be made automatically to those who qualify for them and it will provide a little extra cash to Keighley families and pensioners trying to keep warm during the cold snap."

Cold Weather Payments are made from the Social Fund to certain recipients of income support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Pension Credit during periods of very cold weather.

The payment is a fixed sum of £25 for each week of cold weather.