Some people on the lowest incomes will receive a £25 cold weather payment due to the freezing conditions.
The Met Office has warned of an Arctic blast hitting the UK, which could cause overnight temperatures as low as -10C by the end of the week.
Motorists could face treacherous conditions on the roads, with train journeys taking longer than usual.
The winter payments were triggered for eligible households where the average temperature has been or is forecast to be 0C or below over a period of seven consecutive days.
According to new research, more than three million households cannot afford to heat their homes during the current spell of cold weather, putting their health at risk.
h/t Hyper Star