The UK's frigid start to 2026 has activated the government's Cold Weather Payment scheme, with financial support now due for hundreds of thousands of households. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that over 674,000 homes across 441 postcode areas will receive an automatic £25 payment.
What Triggers the Payment and Who is Eligible?
The scheme, which runs annually from 1 November to 31 March, provides a £25 one-off payment for every seven consecutive days the local temperature is recorded at or below zero degrees Celsius. The current triggering period covers 30 December 2025 to 2 January 2026.
To qualify, residents must already be receiving one of several specific benefits and live in an affected area. The eligible benefits include:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Those not on Pension Credit often need additional qualifying factors such as a disability, a child under five, or caring responsibilities.
How and When Will Payments Arrive?
Payments are made automatically and should land in the recipient's usual benefits bank account within 14 working days of the cold weather period. The payment reference will appear as 'DWP CWP'.
It is possible to receive multiple payments if an area experiences several qualifying cold spells. For instance, several residents in the Lake District received three payments totalling £75 during the previous winter.
Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell stated: “As temperatures plunge, Cold Weather Payments will automatically get support directly to vulnerable households. Combined with our Triple Lock commitment... we're ensuring pensioners get the support they need this Winter.”
Important Exceptions and the Full Postcode List
While the affected areas include parts of Scotland, residents there will not receive the DWP payment. The Scottish Government has replaced the scheme with its own annual Winter Heating Payment.
The DWP uses its own network of weather stations to determine temperatures for each postcode. Individuals who believe they are eligible but have not received a payment, or who dispute the temperature reading for their area, are advised to contact the DWP directly.
The extensive list of eligible postcodes spans from Alston (CA9) in Cumbria to Trimdon Station (TS29) in County Durham, covering regions in England and Wales that have borne the brunt of the recent freeze. Key affected areas include:
- Large parts of Cumbria and the Lake District (CA, LA postcodes)
- Areas of Yorkshire (BD, HX, LS postcodes)
- Postcodes across the Home Counties (AL, HP, SG, WD)
- Parts of East Anglia (IP, NR, PE)
- Several areas in Wales (CF, LD, NP postcodes)
With Met Office warnings for snow and ice remaining in place, further payments may be triggered for additional seven-day freezing periods as the cold snap continues.
