The Department for Work and Pensions has activated Cold Weather Payments across nearly 250 postcode areas in England and Wales, with around 500,000 households eligible for the £25 weekly support
Brits across the country have been battling icy conditions this past week, with the Met Office issuing snow and ice warnings in various regions. Despite the chill, there’s a silver lining – you could be eligible for certain Government payments if you meet the necessary criteria.
‘Cold Weather Payments’ are extra benefits given to individuals on specific support during periods of extreme cold. These are typically distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) when your local temperature is recorded or predicted to hit zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
Usually, those who qualify will pocket £25 for each seven-day spell of severe cold weather between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026. Residents in England and Wales may be eligible for Cold Weather Payments if they’re receiving other financial aid, including:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
However, whether you’re eligible largely hinges on your personal circumstances. For example, if you’re on Universal Credit, both you and your partner must not be in employment or ‘gainfully self-employed’ to receive the benefit.
The official guidance on GOV.UK states: “You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. If you’re eligible, you’ll get these payments automatically. You do not need to apply, but you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus if you have a baby or if a child under five comes to live with you. The payments do not affect your other benefits.”, reports the Mirror.
Those keen to discover whether their English or Welsh postcode is covered can use the UK Government’s online postcode checker to verify their address.
For Northern Ireland residents wanting to confirm eligibility and understand the Cold Weather Payment requirements, visit the NI Direct website. Scottish residents aren’t entitled to Cold Weather Payments, though they may qualify for an annual Winter Heating Payment as an alternative.
Cold Weather Payments triggered across England and Wales
The Mirror reported on January 7 that the DWP had activated Cold Weather Payments for nearly 250 postcode districts. Consequently, it’s estimated that no fewer than half a million households will qualify for this extra financial assistance.
Several postcodes in Cambridgeshire has been triggered too. These include:
PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7, PE8, PE9, PE15, PE16, PE26, PE27, PE28, PE29, BT24, BT25, BT26, BT30, BT31, BT32, BT33, BT34.
Impacted regions have included Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Gloucestershire, alongside areas throughout Wales and Northern Ireland. A comprehensive list of qualifying postcodes appears below:
- CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4, CA5, CA6, CA7, CA8, DG16, BH1, BH2, BH3, BH4, BH5, BH6, BH7, BH8, BH9, BH10, BH11, BH12, BH13, BH14, BH15, BH16, BH17, BH18, BH19, BH20, BH21, BH22, BH23, BH24, BH25, BH31, DT1, DT2, DT11, SP6, CW1, CW2, CW3, CW5, CW12, SK10, SK11, ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7, ST12, ST14, ST15, ST16, ST17, ST18, ST19, ST20, ST21,CV36, GL54, GL55, GL56, OX7, OX15, OX16, OX17, WR12, LD1, LD2, LD4, LD5, LD6, LD7, LD8, SA19, SA20, SY7, SY9, SY18, BL0, BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, BL5, BL6, BL7, BL8, BL9, M24, M26, OL1, OL2, OL3, OL4, OL5, OL6, OL7, OL8, OL9, OL10, OL11, OL12, OL15, OL16, SK15, CW4, CW6, CW7, CW8, CW9, CW10, CW11, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M9, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16, M17, M18, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M25, M27, M28, M29, M30, M31, M32, M33, M34, M35, M38, M40, M41, M43, M44, M45, M46, M50, M90, PR7, SK1, SK2, SK3, SK4, SK5, SK6, SK7, SK8, SK9, SK12, SK14, SK16, WA1, WA2, WA3, WA4, WA5, WA6, WA7, WA8, WA9, WA10, WA11, WA12, WA13, WA14, WA15, WA16, WN1, WN2, WN3, WN4, WN5, WN6, WN7, WN8, SY1, SY2, SY3, SY4, SY5, SY6, SY11, SY12, SY13, TF1, TF2, TF3, TF4, TF5, TF6, TF7, TF8, TF9, TF10, TF11, TF12, TF13, LE15, NN14, NN15, NN16, NN17, NN18, PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7, PE8, PE9, PE15, PE16, PE26, PE27, PE28, PE29, BT24, BT25, BT26, BT30, BT31, BT32, BT33, BT34.
For more information, visit the UK Government website here.
