The Department for Work and Pensions has activated Cold Weather Payments for more than a million homes across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This urgent financial support comes as a severe cold snap, intensified by Storm Goretti, grips the nation.
Who Qualifies for the £25 Payout?
Eligible households will automatically receive a payment of £25 for each seven-day period where the local average temperature is recorded at, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below. The money is paid directly into the account used for benefit claims within 14 working days, with the reference 'DWP CWP'.
The scheme, which runs annually from November 1 to March 31, has already been triggered on multiple occasions this winter. The trigger dates so far are December 30, and January 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2026. Some regions, like Alston and Penrith with postcodes CA9 and CA10, have qualified for several payments, receiving £50 or more already.
Eligibility Criteria and Scottish Alternative
To get the payment automatically, you must be receiving one of these specific benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
For those not on Pension Credit, additional criteria usually apply. Claimants may need to have a disability premium, a child under five in the household, or a disabled child to qualify.
It is important to note that residents of Scotland are not part of this DWP scheme. The Scottish Government operates its own system, the Winter Heating Payment. This is an annual, flat-rate payment made regardless of specific temperature triggers.
Full List of Postcodes Receiving Payments
The total number of eligible postcode areas has now expanded to 802. On Friday, January 9, 2026, the DWP added 74 new postcode districts to the list. The payments have been triggered on the following dates for these areas:
December 30: CA9, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, DG14, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49, TD9.
January 1: AL1, AL2, AL3, AL4, AL5, AL6, AL7, AL8, AL9, AL10, BB4, BB8, BB9, BB10, BB11, BB12, BB18, BD1-22, BN5, BN6, BN44, CB8, CB9, CO1-8, CO10-16, DE4, DE6, DE45, EN6, GU5, GU6, HD3, HD7-9, HP1-23, HP27, HX1-7, IP1-23, IP29-33, LS21, LS29, LU1-7, ME6, ME14-20, OL13, OL14, OX9, OX10, OX33, OX39, OX44, OX49, RG9, RH1-20, S32, S33, S36, SG1-4, SG12-14, SK13, SK17, SK22, SK23, SL7-9, ST8-11, ST13, TN1-20, TN22, TN27, WD3-7, WD17-19, WD23-25.
January 2: BD23-24, CB1-7, CB10-11, CB21-25, CF37-48, CF81-83, CM1-24, CM77, CO9, DH1, DH6-9, DL4-5, DL8, DL11-17, IP24-28, LD3, MK1-19, MK40-46, NE18, NE20, NE44-46, NN1-13, NN29, NP4, NP11-13, NP22-24, NP44, NR1-35, PE12-14, PE19, PE30-38, RM4, SG5-11, SG15-19, TS21, TS28-29.
January 3: LL20, LL21, LL23, SY10, SY15-17, SY19, SY21-22.
January 6: CA9, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, DG14, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49, TD9.
January 7: CA1-8, DG16, BH1-25, BH31, DT1-2, DT11, SP6, CW1-3, CW5, CW12, SK10-11, ST1-7, ST12, ST14-21, CV36, GL54-56, OX7, OX15-17, WR12, LD1-2, LD4-8, SA19-20, SY7, SY9, SY18, BL0-9, M24, M26, OL1-12, OL15-16, SK15, CW4, CW6-11, M1-9, M11-23, M25, M27-35, M38, M40-41, M43-46, M50, M90, PR7, SK1-9, SK12, SK14, SK16, WA1-16, WN1-8, SY1-6, SY11-13, TF1-13, LE15, NN14-18, PE1-9, PE15-16, PE26-29, BT24-26, BT30-34.
January 8: SR7-8, TS1-8, TS10-14, TS17-20, TS22-27, YO13, YO17-18, YO21-22, YO62.
January 9 (74 new postcodes): NE71, TD5, TD12, TD15, DL1-3, DL6-7, DL9-10, TS9, TS15-16, YO7, DH2-5, NE1-70 (including NE1-13, NE15-17, NE21-43, NE61-70), SR1-6.
Part of a Broader Winter Support Package
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell highlighted that these payments are a key component of the government's wider support for vulnerable people during the coldest months. He referenced the Triple Lock commitment, which is projected to increase the State Pension by up to £2,100 over the current Parliament, as part of the same protective strategy.
With temperatures remaining low, households in the listed areas are urged to check their bank accounts for the automatic payment. The DWP confirms that no application is needed for those who meet the criteria.
