Over 670,000 households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive £25 after freezing weather triggered the Department for Work and Pensions’ Cold Weather Payment scheme. The payments were activated following sustained temperatures at or below zero degrees Celsius for seven days across 441 postcode areas.
This comes as the UK faces a period of severe winter weather. The Met Office has issued yellow and amber weather warnings for snow and ice in several regions, while the UK Health Security Agency has placed cold weather alerts in effect until 9 January.
Financial Relief for Vulnerable Households as Temperatures Plummet
According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), more than 670,000 households have qualified for the £25 Cold Weather Payment following an extended spell of freezing temperatures. The scheme is automatically triggered in postcode areas where the average temperature has been recorded or forecasted to be zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
The payments apply across 441 postcode areas, including:
- CA9: Alston
- CA10: Penrith
- CA11: Penrith
- CA12: Keswick
- CA16: Appleby-in-Westmorland
- CA17: Kirkby Stephen
- DG14: Annan
- LA8: Kendal
- LA9: Kendal
- LA10: Sedbergh
- LA21: Grange-over-Sands
- LA22: Ambleside
- LA23: Windermere
- NE19: Wooler
- NE47: Hexham
- NE48: Bardon Mill
- NE49: Haltwhistle
- TD9: Hawick
- AL1: St Albans
- AL2: St Albans
- AL3: St Albans
- AL4: St Albans
- AL5: Harpenden
- AL6: Welwyn
- AL7: Welwyn Garden City
- AL8: Welwyn Garden City
- AL9: Hatfield
- AL10: Hatfield
- BB4: Rossendale
- BB8: Colne
- BB9: Nelson
- BB10: Burnley
- BB11: Burnley
- BB12: Burnley
- BB18: Barnoldswick
- BD1: Bradford
- BD2: Bradford
- BD3: Bradford
- BD4: Bradford
- BD5: Bradford
- BD6: Bradford
- BD7: Bradford
- BD8: Bradford
- BD9: Bradford
- BD10: Bradford
- BD11: Bradford
- BD12: Bradford
- BD13: Queensbury
- BD14: Clayton
- BD15: Allerton
- BD16: Bingley
- BD17: Shipley
- BD18: Shipley
- BD19: Cleckheaton
- BD20: Keighley
- BD21: Keighley
- BD22: Keighley
- BN5: Henfield
- BN6: Hassocks
- BN44: Steyning
- CB8: Newmarket
- CB9: Haverhill
- CO1: Colchester
- CO2: Colchester
- CO3: Colchester
- CO4: Colchester
- CO5: Colchester
- CO6: Colchester
- CO7: Colchester
- CO8: Bures
- CO9: Halstead
- CO10: Sudbury
- CO11: Manningtree
- CO12: Harwich
- CO13: Frinton-on-Sea
- CO14: Walton-on-the-Naze
- CO15: Clacton-on-Sea
- CO16: Clacton-on-Sea
- DE4: Matlock
- DE6: Ashbourne
- DE45: Bakewell
- EN6: Potters Bar
- GU5: Guildford
- GU6: Cranleigh
- HD3: Huddersfield
- HD7: Huddersfield
- HD8: Huddersfield
- HD9: Holmfirth
- HP1: Hemel Hempstead
- HP2: Hemel Hempstead
- HP3: Hemel Hempstead
- HP4: Berkhamsted
- HP5: Chesham
- HP6: Amersham
- HP7: Amersham
- HP8: Chalfont St Giles
- HP9: Beaconsfield
- HP10: High Wycombe
- HP11: High Wycombe
- HP12: High Wycombe
- HP13: High Wycombe
- HP14: High Wycombe
- HP15: Hazlemere
- HP16: Great Missenden
- HP17: Aylesbury
- HP18: Aylesbury
- HP19: Aylesbury
- HP20: Aylesbury
- HP21: Aylesbury
- HP22: Aylesbury
- HP23: Tring
- HP27: Princes Risborough
- HX1: Halifax
- HX2: Halifax
- HX3: Halifax
- HX4: Halifax
- HX5: Elland
- HX6: Sowerby Bridge
- HX7: Hebden Bridge
- IP1: Ipswich
- IP2: Ipswich
- IP3: Ipswich
- IP4: Ipswich
- IP5: Ipswich
- IP6: Ipswich
- IP7: Ipswich
- IP8: Ipswich
- IP9: Ipswich
- IP10: Ipswich
- IP11: Felixstowe
- IP12: Woodbridge
- IP13: Woodbridge
- IP14: Stowmarket
- IP15: Aldeburgh
- IP16: Leiston
- IP17: Saxmundham
- IP18: Southwold
- IP19: Halesworth
- IP20: Harleston
- IP21: Eye
- IP22: Diss
- IP23: Eye
- IP29: Bury St Edmunds
- IP30: Bury St Edmunds
- IP31: Bury St Edmunds
- IP32: Bury St Edmunds
- IP33: Bury St Edmunds
- LS21: Otley
- LS29: Ilkley
- LU1: Luton
- LU2: Luton
- LU3: Luton
- LU4: Luton
- LU5: Dunstable
- LU6: Dunstable
- LU7: Leighton Buzzard
- ME6: Snodland
- ME14: Maidstone
- ME15: Maidstone
- ME16: Maidstone
- ME17: Maidstone
- ME18: West Malling
- ME19: West Malling
- ME20: Aylesford
- OL13: Bacup
- OL14: Todmorden
- OX9: Thame
- OX10: Wallingford
- OX33: Oxford
- OX39: Chinnor
- OX44: Oxford
- OX49: Watlington
- RG9: Henley-on-Thames
- RH1: Redhill
- RH2: Reigate
- RH3: Betchworth
- RH4: Dorking
- RH5: Ockley
- RH6: Horley
- RH7: Lingfield
- RH8: Oxted
- RH9: Godstone
- RH10: Crawley
- RH11: Crawley
- RH12: Horsham
- RH13: Horsham
- RH14: Billingshurst
- RH15: Burgess Hill
- RH16: Haywards Heath
- RH17: Haywards Heath
- RH18: Forest Row
- RH19: East Grinstead
- RH20: Pulborough
- S32: Hope Valley
- S33: Hope Valley
- S36: Sheffield
- SG1: Stevenage
- SG2: Stevenage
- SG3: Knebworth
- SG4: Hitchin
- SG5: Hitchin
- SG6: Letchworth Garden City
- SG7: Baldock
- SG8: Royston
- SG9: Buntingford
- SG10: Much Hadham
- SG11: Ware
- SG12: Ware
- SG13: Hertford
- SG14: Hertford
- SG15: Arlesey
- SG16: Henlow
- SG17: Shefford
- SG18: Biggleswade
- SG19: Sandy
- SK13: Glossop
- SK17: Buxton
- SK22: High Peak
- SK23: High Peak
- SL7: Marlow
- SL8: Bourne End
- SL9: Gerrards Cross
- ST8: Stoke-on-Trent
- ST9: Stoke-on-Trent
- ST10: Stoke-on-Trent
- ST11: Stoke-on-Trent
- ST13: Leek
- TN1: Tunbridge Wells
- TN2: Tunbridge Wells
- TN3: Tunbridge Wells
- TN4: Tunbridge Wells
- TN5: Wadhurst
- TN6: Crowborough
- TN7: Hartfield
- TN8: Edenbridge
- TN9: Tonbridge
- TN10: Tonbridge
- TN11: Tonbridge
- TN12: Tonbridge
- TN13: Sevenoaks
- TN14: Sevenoaks
- TN15: Sevenoaks
- TN16: Westerham
- TN17: Cranbrook
- TN18: Cranbrook
- TN19: Etchingham
- TN20: Mayfield
- TN22: Uckfield
- TN27: Ashford
- WD3: Rickmansworth
- WD4: Kings Langley
- WD5: Abbots Langley
- WD6: Borehamwood
- WD7: Radlett
- WD17: Watford
- WD18: Watford
- WD19: Watford
- WD23: Bushey
- WD24: Watford
- WD25: Watford
- BD23: Skipton
- BD24: Settle
- CB1: Cambridge
- CB2: Cambridge
- CB3: Cambridge
- CB4: Cambridge
- CB5: Cambridge
- CB6: Ely
- CB7: Ely
- CB10: Saffron Walden
- CB11: Saffron Walden
- CB21: Cambridge
- CB22: Cambridge
- CB23: Cambridge
- CB24: Cambridge
- CB25: Cambridge
- CF37: Pontypridd
- CF38: Pontypridd
- CF39: Porth
- CF40: Tonypandy
- CF41: Pentre
- CF42: Treorchy
- CF43: Ferndale
- CF44: Aberdare
- CF45: Mountain Ash
- CF46: Treharris
- CF47: Merthyr Tydfil
- CF48: Merthyr Tydfil
- CF81: Bargoed
- CF82: Ystrad Mynach
- CF83: Caerphilly
- CM1: Chelmsford
- CM2: Chelmsford
- CM3: Chelmsford
- CM4: Ingatestone
- CM5: Ongar
- CM6: Dunmow
- CM7: Braintree
- CM8: Witham
- CM9: Maldon
- CM11: Billericay
- CM12: Billericay
- CM13: Brentwood
- CM14: Brentwood
- CM15: Brentwood
- CM16: Epping
- CM17: Harlow
- CM18: Harlow
- CM19: Harlow
- CM20: Harlow
- CM21: Sawbridgeworth
- CM22: Bishop’s Stortford
- CM23: Bishop’s Stortford
- CM24: Stansted
- CM77: Great Dunmow
- CO9: Halstead
- DH1: Durham
- DH6: Durham
- DH7: Durham
- DH8: Consett
- DH9: Stanley
- DL4: Shildon
- DL5: Newton Aycliffe
- DL8: Leyburn
- DL11: Richmond
- DL12: Barnard Castle
- DL13: Bishop Auckland
- DL14: Bishop Auckland
- DL15: Crook
- DL16: Spennymoor
- DL17: Ferryhill
- IP24: Thetford
- IP25: Thetford
- IP26: Thetford
- IP27: Brandon
- IP28: Mildenhall
- LD3: Brecon
- MK1: Milton Keynes
- MK2: Milton Keynes
- MK3: Milton Keynes
- MK4: Milton Keynes
- MK5: Milton Keynes
- MK6: Milton Keynes
- MK7: Milton Keynes
- MK8: Milton Keynes
- MK9: Milton Keynes
- MK10: Milton Keynes
- MK11: Milton Keynes
- MK12: Milton Keynes
- MK13: Milton Keynes
- MK14: Milton Keynes
- MK15: Milton Keynes
- MK16: Newport Pagnell
- MK17: Milton Keynes
- MK18: Buckingham
- MK19: Milton Keynes
- MK40: Bedford
- MK41: Bedford
- MK42: Bedford
- MK43: Bedford
- MK44: Bedford
- MK45: Bedford
- MK46: Olney
- NE18: Morpeth
- NE19: Wooler
- NE20: Newcastle upon Tyne
- NE44: Prudhoe
- NE45: Stocksfield
- NE46: Corbridge
- NE47: Hexham
- NE48: Bardon Mill
- NE49: Haltwhistle
- NN1: Northampton
- NN2: Northampton
- NN3: Northampton
- NN4: Northampton
- NN5: Northampton
- NN6: Northampton
- NN7: Northampton
- NN8: Wellingborough
- NN9: Wellingborough
- NN10: Rushden
- NN11: Daventry
- NN12: Towcester
- NN13: Brackley
- NN29: Wellingborough
- NP4: Pontypool
- NP11: Newport
- NP12: Blackwood
- NP13: Abertillery
- NP22: Tredegar
- NP23: Ebbw Vale
- NP24: New Tredegar
- NP44: Cwmbran
- NR1: Norwich
- NR2: Norwich
- NR3: Norwich
- NR4: Norwich
- NR5: Norwich
- NR6: Norwich
- NR7: Norwich
- NR8: Norwich
- NR9: Norwich
- NR10: Norwich
- NR11: Norwich
- NR12: Norwich
- NR13: Norwich
- NR14: Norwich
- NR15: Norwich
- NR16: Norwich
- NR17: Attleborough
- NR18: Wymondham
- NR19: Dereham
- NR20: Dereham
- NR21: Fakenham
- NR22: Wells-next-the-Sea
- NR23: Wells-next-the-Sea
- NR24: Melton Constable
- NR25: Holt
- NR26: Sheringham
- NR27: Cromer
- NR28: North Walsham
- NR29: Great Yarmouth
- NR30: Great Yarmouth
- NR31: Great Yarmouth
- NR32: Lowestoft
- NR33: Lowestoft
- NR34: Beccles
- NR35: Bungay
- PE12: Spalding
- PE13: Wisbech
- PE14: Wisbech
- PE19: St Neots
- PE30: King’s Lynn
- PE31: King’s Lynn
- PE32: King’s Lynn
- PE33: King’s Lynn
- PE34: King’s Lynn
- PE35: Sandringham
- PE36: Hunstanton
- PE37: Swaffham
- PE38: Downham Market
- RM4: Romford
- SG5: Hitchin
- SG6: Letchworth Garden City
- SG7: Baldock
- SG8: Royston
- SG9: Buntingford
- SG10: Much Hadham
- SG11: Ware
- SG15: Arlesey
- SG16: Henlow
- SG17: Shefford
- SG18: Biggleswade
- SG19: Sandy
- TS21: Stockton-on-Tees
- TS28: Wingate
- TS29: Trimdon Station
The support is available to eligible recipients of means-tested benefits. These include those on Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, and Support for Mortgage Interest. According to the DWP, additional conditions may apply, particularly for those not on Pension Credit, such as having a child under five, a disability, or a long-term health condition.
Cold Weather Payments are intended to help with additional heating costs during extreme winter conditions. They are separate from the Winter Fuel Payment, and claimants do not need to apply, the funds are transferred automatically within 14 working days after each period of severe cold.
Official Alerts Coincide With Payment Activations Across Multiple Regions
The trigger for the payments coincides with wider alerts from national agencies. The Met Office has placed parts of the UK under snow and ice warnings, while the UK Health Security Agency has issued cold health alerts for most regions, warning of increased risks to vulnerable groups including the elderly and people with chronic illnesses. These alerts are in effect until at least 9 January.
According to the Met Office, the forecast includes continued sub-zero overnight temperatures, with some areas facing prolonged ice and snowfall. As conditions worsen, more areas may become eligible for payments if the weather criteria are met.
Residents can check whether their area is included by visiting the government’s dedicated site: coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk. By entering their postcode, individuals can view whether a payment has been triggered in their location.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March each year and is part of the government’s broader strategy to support households during periods of financial strain caused by extreme weather. According to the DWP, no action is needed from those eligible, payments are handled automatically based on data from local weather stations.
