DWP Publishes Full List of Postcodes Eligible for Cold Weather Payments
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has officially released a detailed list of postcode areas that have qualified for Cold Weather Payments during the current winter season. According to recent figures, close to 1.5 million households across England and Wales have already received these crucial payments since December, providing vital financial assistance during periods of extreme cold.
Understanding Cold Weather Payments
Cold Weather Payments are additional benefits designed to support individuals receiving specific forms of financial aid when temperatures plummet. These payments are typically issued by the DWP when the average temperature in a given area is recorded or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or lower for seven consecutive days. Eligible recipients can receive £25 for each qualifying seven-day period between November 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria and Automatic Payments
To qualify for Cold Weather Payments, individuals must be receiving certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest. It is important to note that eligibility often depends on personal circumstances; for example, those claiming Universal Credit must not be employed or gainfully self-employed, nor their partner.
Payments are made automatically to eligible recipients, with no need to apply. However, individuals are advised to inform Jobcentre Plus if they have a new baby or if a child under five comes to live with them. These payments do not affect other benefits, ensuring that vulnerable households receive uninterrupted support.
Full List of Triggered Postcode Areas
The DWP has published a comprehensive list of postcode areas that have been triggered for Cold Weather Payments so far this winter. Below is a detailed breakdown of the affected regions:
- Albemarle: DH1, DH6, DH7, DH8, DH9, DL4, DL5, DL14, DL15, DL16, DL17, NE18, NE20, NE44, NE45, NE46, TS21, TS28, TS29
- Andrewsfield: CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB10, CB11, CB21, CB22, CB23, CB24, CB25, CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4, CM5, CM6, CM7, CM8, CM9, CM11, CM12, CM13, CM14, CM15, CM16, CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20, CM21, CM22, CM23, CM24, CM77, CO9, RM4, SG8, SG9, SG10, SG11
- Bainbridge: BD23, BD24, DL8, DL11, DL12, DL13
- Benson: HP5, HP6, HP7, HP8, HP9, HP10, HP11, HP12, HP13, HP14, HP15, HP16, HP17, HP18, HP19, HP20, HP21, HP22, HP23, HP27, OX9, OX10, OX33, OX39, OX44, OX49, RG9, SL7, SL8, SL9
- Bingley: BB4, BB8, BB9, BB10, BB11, BB12, BB18, BD1, BD2, BD3, BD4, BD5, BD6, BD7, BD8, BD9, BD10, BD11, BD12, BD13, BD14, BD15, BD16, BD17, BD18, BD19, BD20, BD21, BD22, HD3, HD7, HD8, HD9, HX1, HX2, HX3, HX4, HX5, HX6, HX7, LS21, LS29, OL13, OL14, S36
- Carlisle: CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4, CA5, CA6, CA7, CA8, DG16
- Charlwood: BN5, BN6, BN44, GU5, GU6, ME6, ME14, ME15, ME16, ME17, ME18, ME19, ME20, RH1, RH2, RH3, RH4, RH5, RH6, RH7, RH8, RH9, RH10, RH11, RH12, RH13, RH14, RH15, RH16, RH17, RH18, RH19, RH20, TN1, TN2, TN3, TN4, TN5, TN6, TN7, TN8, TN9, TN10, TN11, TN12, TN13, TN14, TN15, TN16, TN17, TN18, TN19, TN20, TN22, TN27
- Charterhall: NE71, TD5, TD12, TD15
- Eskdalemuir: DG14, TD9
- Hurn: 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
- Keele: CW1, CW2, CW3, CW5, CW12, SK10, SK11, ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7, ST12, ST14, ST15, ST16, ST17, ST18, ST19, ST20, ST21
- Lake Vyrnwy: LL20, LL21, LL23, SY10, SY15, SY16, SY17, SY19, SY21, SY22
- Leek Thorncliffe: DE4, DE6, DE45, S32, S33, SK13, SK17, SK22, SK23, ST8, ST9, ST10, ST11, ST13
- Leeming: DL1, DL2, DL3, DL6, DL7, DL9, DL10, TS9, TS15, TS16, YO7
- Libanus: CF37, CF38, CF39, CF40, CF41, CF42, CF43, CF44, CF45, CF46, CF47, CF48, CF81, CF82, CF83, LD3, NP4, NP11, NP12, NP13, NP22, NP23, NP24, NP44
- Little Rissington: CV36, GL54, GL55, GL56, OX7, OX15, OX16, OX17, WR12
- Llysdinam: LD1, LD2, LD4, LD5, LD6, LD7, LD8, SA19, SA20, SY7, SY9, SY18
- Loftus: SR7, SR8, TS1, TS2, TS3, TS4, TS5, TS6, TS7, TS8, TS10, TS11, TS12, TS13, TS14, TS17, TS18, TS19, TS20, TS22, TS23, TS24, TS25, TS26, TS27, YO13, YO17, YO18, YO21, YO22, YO62
- Marham: CB6, CB7, IP24, IP25, IP26, IP27, IP28, PE12, PE13, PE14, PE30, PE31, PE32, PE33, PE34, PE35, PE36, PE37, PE38
- Morpeth, Cockle Park: DH2, DH3, DH4, DH5, NE1, NE2, NE3, NE4, NE5, NE6, NE7, NE8, NE9, NE10, NE11, NE12, NE13, NE15, NE16, NE17, NE21, NE22, NE23, NE24, NE25, NE26, NE27, NE28, NE29, NE30, NE31, NE32, NE33, NE34, NE35, NE36, NE37, NE38, NE39, NE40, NE41, NE42, NE43, NE61, NE62, NE63, NE64, NE65, NE66, NE67, NE68, NE69, NE70, SR1, SR2, SR3, SR4, SR5, SR6
- Redesdale: CA9, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49
- Rochdale: 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
- Rostherne: 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
- Rothamsted: AL1, AL2, AL3, AL4, AL5, AL6, AL7, AL8, AL9, AL10, EN6, HP1, HP2, HP3, HP4, LU1, LU2, LU3, LU4, LU5, LU6, LU7, SG1, SG2, SG3, SG4, SG12, SG13, SG14, WD3, WD4, WD5, WD6, WD7, WD17, WD18, WD19, WD23, WD24, WD25
- Shap: CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23
- Shawbury: SY1, SY2, SY3, SY4, SY5, SY6, SY11, SY12, SY13, TF1, TF2, TF3, TF4, TF5, TF6, TF7, TF8, TF9, TF10, TF11, TF12, TF13
- Stowe: MK18, NN1, NN2, NN3, NN4, NN5, NN6, NN7, NN11, NN12, NN13
- Tibenham Airfield: NR1, NR2, NR3, NR4, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8, NR9, NR10, NR11, NR12, NR13, NR14, NR15, NR16, NR17, NR18, NR19, NR20, NR21, NR22, NR23, NR24, NR25, NR26, NR27, NR28, NR29, NR30, NR31, NR32, NR33, NR34, NR35
- Wattisham: CB8, CB9, CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4, CO5, CO6, CO7, CO8, CO10, CO11, CO12, CO13, CO14, CO15, CO16, IP1, IP2, IP3, IP4, IP5, IP6, IP7, IP8, IP9, IP10, IP11, IP12, IP13, IP14, IP15, IP16, IP17, IP18, IP19, IP20, IP21, IP22, IP23, IP29, IP30, IP31, IP32, IP33
- Wittering: LE15, NN14, NN15, NN16, NN17, NN18, PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7, PE8, PE9, PE15, PE16, PE26, PE27, PE28, PE29
- Woburn: MK1, MK2, MK3, MK4, MK5, MK6, MK7, MK8, MK9, MK10, MK11, MK12, MK13, MK14, MK15, MK16, MK17, MK19, MK40, MK41, MK42, MK43, MK44, MK45, MK46, NN8, NN9, NN10, NN29, PE19, SG5, SG6, SG7, SG15, SG16, SG17, SG18, SG19
Government Statements and Additional Support
In response to the publication of this list, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden emphasised the importance of these payments, stating, "This support is a lifeline for vulnerable households when temperatures plummet. Combined with our wider cost of living support – including a higher National Living Wage, £150 off energy bills, and a £300 Winter Fuel Payment for over nine million pensioners - these measures are making a real difference to households across the country."
Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell added, "Almost 1.5 million households have already benefited from Cold Weather Payments this winter, with support reaching those who need it most. In addition, our biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign and our Triple Lock commitment, which will see the State Pension increase by up to £2,100 over this Parliament, are ensuring pensioners get the support they need this winter."
Regional Variations and Further Information
It is crucial to note that Cold Weather Payments are only available in England and Wales. Residents in Northern Ireland can check their eligibility and criteria through the NI Direct website, while those in Scotland are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments but may qualify for an annual Winter Heating Payment instead.
For more detailed information, individuals are encouraged to use the UK Government's postcode tool to verify their eligibility or visit the official GOV.UK website for comprehensive guidance on Cold Weather Payments and other related benefits.
