People on the lowest incomes may be eligible for extra funding towards energy bills as temperatures plummet.

The government is offering financial support during the cold weather to people across Sussex who receive certain benefits or support.

The Met Office has warned that temperatures “close to minus 10C” could be recorded in rural parts of the UK on Thursday.

For each seven-day period of very cold weather (below 0C), those who are eligible will be given £25 in their bank account within 14 days of the cold weather trigger.

The Argus: More than three million low-income households cannot afford to heat their homes, new research shows, posing a risk to their health as a severe chill sweeps the UKMore than three million low-income households cannot afford to heat their homes, new research shows, posing a risk to their health as a severe chill sweeps the UK

There is no need to apply.

The postcodes that qualify for the current week, December 7 to December 13, are:

  • BN5
  • BN6
  • BN44
  • RH17
  • RH18
  • RH19
  • TN3
  • TN5
  • TN6
  • TN7
  • TN8
  • TN19
  • TN20
  • TN22
  • GU28
  • GU29
  • GU31

People claiming pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, universal credit and support for mortgage interest could be eligible for the cold weather payments, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) guidance says.

It comes as weather warnings have been extended into the weekend and drivers have been warned of dangers on the roads in parts of the UK.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a Level 3 cold weather alert covering England until Monday.

A DWP spokesman said: “These additional payments provide support every year to help people experiencing the coldest weather.

“Cold weather payments can be triggered right through to the end of March, giving people facing disproportionately cold weather that extra reassurance over the chillier months.”