Cold weather payments have been triggered for most (or maybe all) Wirral postcodes for those in receipt of certain benefits (see HERE).

The criteria is that "the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below for 7 consecutive days".

I can only presume I'm living on a different Wirral because the temperatures I've seen don't meet that criteria. Its unusual for the Government to be handing out money so I guess its not a bad thing. The amount is £25 for each 7 day period.

Eligible Wirral postcodes are CH41, CH42, CH43, CH44, CH45, CH46, CH47, CH48, CH49, CH60, CH61, CH62, CH63 and CH64.

The Temperature is decided by the Crosby weather station, so maybe Crosby was suffering more than the Wirral. Shhhh!

Crosby is colder but I can't see 7 consecutive days where the average was below zero, perhaps it was forecasted.

There are other criteria too. You have to be receiving benefits to receive it at all. I suspect the wind-chill factor may be taken into consideration as well.

The Cold Weather Payments (Wind Chill Factor) Bill was filibustered in 1998.

looking forward to a nice fat cheque through the letterbox. It says the "average" was below zero so if you get a few days at -4 0r-5 that will help bring the average down if its gone above 0 . Wonder who gets paid it... I potentially have 2 people in the household who could be eligible ..neither are the home owner

Eligibility criteria is here https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility

You have to look at the detail further down the page, not just the initial list.

£25 cold weather payment received. Covers a bit of the increase in council tax..