If you’re wondering whether your area qualifies for the DWP Cold Weather Payment this winter, the short answer is: you may receive £25 automatically for every 7-day period your local temperature is recorded or forecasted at 0°C or below, if you’re receiving certain benefits and live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Here are the key facts to know:
- Payments are triggered automatically by weather conditions and linked to specific postcodes.
- No application is needed for most people, but you may need to notify Jobcentre Plus in some situations.
- Over 670,000 households are currently eligible.
- These payments do not affect other benefits and are separate from Winter Fuel Payments.
- Scotland residents are not covered under this scheme but get the Winter Heating Payment instead.
What Are DWP Cold Weather Payments and How Do They Work?
The Cold Weather Payment scheme is a UK government initiative run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to provide financial relief during severe winter weather. It supports low-income households with heating costs when the temperature drops significantly.
You’ll receive £25 for each consecutive 7-day period during which the average temperature in your area is 0°C or below. The payment period runs from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026.
These payments are automatic and based on data from designated weather stations linked to your postcode. When the threshold is met, eligible claimants receive the payment directly into their bank accounts, without needing to apply.
Cold Weather Payments differ from Winter Fuel Payments, which are annual lump sums for older individuals. The Cold Weather Payment is targeted specifically at supporting vulnerable households with extra heating costs during freezing periods.
This support is vital for pensioners, parents with young children, and those on disability or unemployment benefits to help manage the impact of rising heating bills during the harshest weeks of winter.
Who Is Eligible for DWP Cold Weather Payments?
To qualify for Cold Weather Payments, you must be receiving certain means-tested benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.
Eligibility includes:
- Pension Credit: Automatically qualifies you.
- Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA): If you also have a disability or pensioner premium, a disabled child, or a child under 5.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): Particularly if you’re in the support or work-related activity group. If not, other conditions apply, such as disability or pensioner premiums or a young or disabled child.
- Universal Credit: You must not be working or be gainfully self-employed. In addition, you or your partner must have a health condition, limited work capability, or a child under 5.
- Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): If you’re treated as receiving a qualifying benefit and meet additional criteria, such as having a disabled child or a pensioner premium.
You do not need to apply if you qualify. However, if you have a baby or a child under 5 comes to live with you, and you receive Income Support, JSA, or ESA, you must inform Jobcentre Plus to ensure you’re included in the automatic payments.
How Are DWP Cold Weather Payments Triggered?
The DWP Cold Weather Payments are activated based on temperature readings from official weather stations across the UK.
Here’s how it works:
- Payments are triggered if the average daily temperature in your area is recorded or forecasted to be 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.
- Each weather station is linked to specific postcodes. The DWP uses these connections to determine which areas qualify.
- The scheme operates between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026.
- When a qualifying temperature period is confirmed, the £25 payment is released automatically to eligible recipients.
It’s important to note that the trigger is tied strictly to recorded weather patterns, not individual home conditions. If your postcode is connected to a weather station that hits the freezing threshold, the payment will be processed.
The government regularly updates the list of triggered postcodes, which you can check online through the official postcode checker tool.
How and When Will You Get Paid?
Once the temperature trigger is met in your area and you’re deemed eligible, the Cold Weather Payment will be processed automatically by DWP.
Here’s how the process works:
- Payment Amount: £25 for each 7-day period of freezing temperatures (0°C or below).
- Timing: You will receive the money within 14 working days of the qualifying cold period.
- Payment Method: The funds are paid into the same account where you receive your benefits.
Key payment periods are spread across winter, and you may receive multiple payments if the cold weather lasts longer or returns later in the season.
You do not need to claim it, apply online, or fill in forms, unless you’ve had a baby or a child under 5 has moved in, in which case you should notify Jobcentre Plus to update your benefit claim and ensure payment eligibility. Always keep an eye on the DWP’s cold weather trigger updates to stay informed.
Full List of DWP Cold Weather Payments Areas in the UK
To help you easily identify whether your area qualifies for the DWP Cold Weather Payment, the UK Government uses a system based on regional weather stations and postcode groupings.
When the temperature in a specific area falls to zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days, payments are automatically triggered for all eligible recipients in the affected postcodes.
The full list below outlines each postcode area that has qualified for a payment in the 2025–2026 winter season so far. These areas are grouped according to the weather stations responsible for monitoring the temperatures that trigger the payments.
For each region, the list details:
- The postcode
- The corresponding town or locality
- The region or county
- The date the payment was triggered by the DWP
This comprehensive breakdown includes the most up-to-date information available, with the latest update covering newly eligible areas as of January 2026. Whether you live in England or Wales, you can find your local postcode in the listings to verify if a payment has been issued.
If your area appears on the list and you meet the eligibility criteria, you should receive a £25 Cold Weather Payment within 14 working days. Payments are deposited directly into the same bank account where you receive your benefits.
If your area is not listed yet, it may still become eligible as the cold season continues, depending on future temperature patterns recorded by the Met Office.
Use the tables below to check your location, and keep monitoring updates throughout the winter period for any changes.
Cold Weather Payments Triggered – January 2026 Update
Postcode Location Region
LL20 Llangollen Wales
LL21 Corwen Wales
LL23 Gwynedd Wales
SY10 Oswestry Shropshire
SY15 Shrewsbury and surrounding areas Shropshire
SY16 Newtown and surrounding areas Wales
SY17 Caersws and surrounding areas Wales
SY19 Llanbrynmair Wales
SY21 Welshpool Wales
SY22 Llanfechain Wales
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Rothamsted Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
AL1 St Albans Hertfordshire
AL10 Hatfield Hertfordshire
AL2 St Albans Hertfordshire
AL3 Redbourn Hertfordshire
AL4 Sandridge Hertfordshire
AL5 Harpenden Hertfordshire
AL6 Welwyn Hertfordshire
AL7 Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire
AL8 Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire
AL9 Hatfield Hertfordshire
EN6 Potters Bar Hertfordshire
HP1 Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire
HP2 Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire
HP3 Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire
HP4 Berkhamsted Hertfordshire
LU1 Luton Bedfordshire
LU2 Luton Bedfordshire
LU3 Luton Bedfordshire
LU4 Luton Bedfordshire
LU5 Thorn Central Bedfordshire
LU6 Dunstable Central Bedfordshire
LU7 Leighton-Linslade Central Bedfordshire
SG1 Stevenage Hertfordshire
SG12 Ware Hertfordshire
SG13 Hertford Hertfordshire
SG14 Hertford Hertfordshire
SG2 Stevenage Hertfordshire
SG3 Knebworth Hertfordshire
SG4 Ippollitts Hertfordshire
WD17 Watford Hertfordshire
WD18 Watford Hertfordshire
WD19 Watford Rural Hertfordshire
WD23 Potters Bar Hertfordshire
WD24 Watford Hertfordshire
WD25 Watford Hertfordshire
WD3 Chorleywood Hertfordshire
WD4 Kings Langley Hertfordshire
WD5 Abbots Langley Hertfordshire
WD6 Borehamwood Hertfordshire
WD7 Radlett Hertfordshire
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Bingley Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
BB10 Burnley Lancashire
BB11 Burnley Lancashire
BB12 Ightenhill Lancashire
BB18 Salterforth Lancashire
BB4 Rawtenstall Lancashire
BB8 Newchurch Lancashire
BB9 Newchurch Lancashire
BD1 Bradford City Centre West Yorkshire
BD10 Apperley Bridge Bradford
BD11 Adwalton Bradford
BD12 Low Moor Bradford
BD13 Queensbury Bradford
BD14 Clayton Bradford
BD15 Allerton Bradford
BD16 Bingley West Yorkshire
BD17 Shipley West Yorkshire
BD18 Saltaire, Shipley West Yorkshire
BD2 Eccleshill Bradford
BD20 Keighley West Yorkshire
BD21 Hainworth, Keighley West Yorkshire
BD22 Cowling, Keighley West Yorkshire
BD3 Barkerend Bradford
BD4 Bierley Bradford
BD5 Bankfoot Bradford
BD6 Buttershaw Bradford
BD7 Great Horton Bradford
BD8 Manningham Bradford
BD9 Frizinghall Bradford
HD3 Huddersfield Kirklees
HD7 Huddersfield Kirklees
HD8 Kirkburton Kirklees
HD9 Holme Kirklees
HX1 Halifax Calderdale
HX2 Highroad Well, Halifax Calderdale
HX3 Hipperholme, Halifax Calderdale
HX4 Holywell Green Calderdale
HX5 Elland Calderdale
HX6 Sowerby Bridge Calderdale
HX7 Hebden Bridge Calderdale
LS21 Otley Leeds
LS29 Ilkley Bradford
OL13 Rawtenstall Lancashire
OL14 Todmorden Calderdale
S36 Hunshelf Barnsley
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Bainbridge Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
BD23 Thorlby North Yorkshire
BD24 Langcliffe North Yorkshire
DL11 Marske North Yorkshire
DL12 Cotherstone County Durham
DL13 Stanhope County Durham
DL8 Spennithorne North Yorkshire
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Charlwood Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
BN44 Steyning West Sussex
BN5 Henfield West Sussex
BN6 Clayton West Sussex
GU5 Wonersh Surrey
GU6 Cranleigh Surrey
ME14 Maidstone Kent
ME15 Maidstone Kent
ME16 Maidstone Kent
ME17 Leeds Kent
ME18 West Farleigh Kent
ME19 West Malling Kent
ME20 Ditton Kent
ME6 Snodland Kent
RH1 Reigate and Banstead Surrey
RH10 Crawley West Sussex
RH11 Crawley West Sussex
RH12 Horsham West Sussex
RH13 Southwater West Sussex
RH14 Wisborough Green West Sussex
RH15 Burgess Hill West Sussex
RH16 Haywards Heath West Sussex
RH17 Cuckfield Rural West Sussex
RH18 Forest Row East Sussex
RH19 East Grinstead West Sussex
RH2 Reigate and Banstead Surrey
RH20 Storrington West Sussex
RH3 Brockham Surrey
RH4 Dorking Surrey
RH5 Capel Surrey
RH6 Horley Surrey
RH7 Lingfield Surrey
RH8 Limpsfield Surrey
RH9 Godstone Surrey
TN1 Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent
TN10 Tonbridge Kent
TN11 Tonbridge Kent
TN12 Yalding Kent
TN13 Sevenoaks Kent
TN14 Dunton Green Kent
TN15 Wrotham Kent
TN16 Greater London Greater London
TN17 Cranbrook Kent
TN18 Four Throws Kent
TN19 Burwash East Sussex
TN2 Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent
TN20 Mayfield East Sussex
TN22 Uckfield East Sussex
TN27 Smarden Kent
TN3 Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent
TN4 Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent
TN5 Wadhurst East Sussex
TN6 Crowborough East Sussex
TN7 Hartfield East Sussex
TN8 Edenbridge Kent
TN9 Tonbridge Kent
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Andrewsfield Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
CB1 Fulbourn Cambridgeshire
CB10 Saffron Walden Essex
CB11 Newport Essex
CB2 Great Shelford Cambridgeshire
CB21 Balsham Cambridgeshire
CB22 Little Shelford Cambridgeshire
CB23 Highfields Cambridgeshire
CB24 Over Cambridgeshire
CB25 Lode Cambridgeshire
CB3 Hardwick Cambridgeshire
CB4 Impington Cambridgeshire
CB5 Stow Cum Quy Cambridgeshire
CM1 Chelmsford Essex
CM11 Essex Essex
CM12 Billericay Essex
CM13 Brentwood Essex
CM14 Brentwood Essex
CM15 Brentwood Essex
CM16 Epping Essex
CM17 Harlow Essex
CM18 Harlow Essex
CM19 Harlow Essex
CM2 Great Baddow Essex
CM20 Harlow Essex
CM21 Sawbridgeworth Hertfordshire
CM22 Great Hallingbury Essex
CM23 Bishops Stortford Hertfordshire
CM24 Stansted Mountfitchet Essex
CM3 Danbury Essex
CM4 Ingatestone Essex
CM5 Ongar Essex
CM6 Great Dunmow Essex
CM7 Braintree Essex
CM77 Braintree Essex
CM8 Witham Essex
CM9 Heybridge Essex
CO9 Sible Hedingham Essex
RM4 Stapleford Abbotts Essex
SG10 Much Hadham Hertfordshire
SG11 Standon Hertfordshire
SG8 Melbourn Cambridgeshire
SG9 Buntingford Hertfordshire
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Marham Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
CB6 Downham Cambridgeshire
CB7 Soham Cambridgeshire
IP24 Thetford Norfolk
IP25 Ovington Norfolk
IP26 Methwold Norfolk
IP27 Brandon Suffolk
IP28 Tuddenham Suffolk
PE12 Fleet Lincolnshire
PE13 Wisbech Cambridgeshire
PE14 Emneth Norfolk
PE30 King's Lynn Norfolk
PE31 Snettisham Norfolk
PE32 West Acre Norfolk
PE33 Shouldham Norfolk
PE34 Wiggenhall St Germans Norfolk
PE35 Sandringham Norfolk
PE36 Old Hunstanton Norfolk
PE37 Swaffham Norfolk
PE38 Denver Norfolk
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Wattisham Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
CB8 Woodditton Cambridgeshire
CB9 Haverhill Suffolk
CO1 Colchester Essex
CO10 Sudbury Suffolk
CO11 Mistley Essex
CO12 Harwich Essex
CO13 Frinton and Walton Essex
CO14 Frinton and Walton Essex
CO15 Clacton-on-Sea Essex
CO16 Little Clacton Essex
CO2 Colchester Essex
CO3 Colchester Essex
CO4 Colchester Essex
CO5 Layer Breton Essex
CO6 Fordham Essex
CO7 Elmstead Essex
CO8 Bures Hamlet Essex
IP1 Ipswich Suffolk
IP10 Levington Suffolk
IP11 Felixstowe Suffolk
IP12 Bromeswell Suffolk
IP13 Kettleburgh Suffolk
IP14 Stowupland Suffolk
IP15 Aldeburgh Suffolk
IP16 Leiston Suffolk
IP17 Kelsale Suffolk
IP18 Southwold Suffolk
IP19 Halesworth Suffolk
IP2 Ipswich Suffolk
IP20 Harleston Norfolk
IP21 Syleham Suffolk
IP22 Wortham Suffolk
IP23 Eye Suffolk
IP29 Whepstead Suffolk
IP3 Ipswich Suffolk
IP30 Hessett Suffolk
IP31 Pakenham Suffolk
IP32 Bury St Edmunds Suffolk
IP33 Bury St Edmunds Suffolk
IP4 Ipswich Suffolk
IP5 Kesgrave Suffolk
IP6 Hemingstone Suffolk
IP7 Aldham Suffolk
IP8 Sproughton Suffolk
IP9 Holbrook Suffolk
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Libanus Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
CF37 Pontypridd Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF38 Llantwit Fardre Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF39 Cymmer Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF40 Tonypandy Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF41 Ystrad Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF42 Treorchy Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF43 Ferndale Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF44 Aberdare Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF45 Penrhiwceiber Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF46 Treharris Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 Town Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 Town Merthyr Tydfil
CF81 Bargoed Caerphilly
CF82 Gelligaer Caerphilly
CF83 Caerphilly Caerphilly
LD3 Llanddew Powys
NP11 Abercarn Caerphilly
NP12 Blackwood Caerphilly
NP13 Abertillery Blaenau Gwent
NP22 Tredegar Blaenau Gwent
NP23 Ebbw Vale Blaenau Gwent
NP24 New Tredegar Caerphilly
NP4 Trevethin Torfaen
NP44 Cwmbran Torfaen
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Leek Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
DE4 Matlock Bath Derbyshire
DE45 Bakewell Derbyshire
DE6 Osmaston Derbyshire
S32 Grindleford Derbyshire
S33 Aston Derbyshire
SK13 Glossop Derbyshire
SK17 King Sterndale Derbyshire
SK22 New Mills Derbyshire
SK23 Chapel-en-le-Frith Derbyshire
ST10 Cheadle Staffordshire
ST11 Forsbrook Staffordshire
ST13 Leek Staffordshire
ST8 Biddulph Staffordshire
ST9 Bagnall Staffordshire
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Albemarle Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
DH1 Durham County Durham
DH6 Shadforth County Durham
DH7 Esh County Durham
DH8 Burnhope County Durham
DH9 Stanley County Durham
DL14 Bishop Auckland County Durham
DL15 Crook County Durham
DL16 Spennymoor County Durham
DL17 Ferryhill County Durham
DL4 Shildon County Durham
DL5 Great Aycliffe County Durham
NE18 Stamfordham Northumberland
NE20 Ponteland Northumberland
NE44 Broomhaugh and Riding Northumberland
NE45 Corbridge Northumberland
NE46 Hexham Northumberland
TS21 Sedgefield County Durham
TS28 Hutton Henry County Durham
TS29 Trimdon County Durham
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Odiham Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
GU1 Guildford Surrey
GU2 Guildford Surrey
GU3 Worplesdon Surrey
GU4 Guildford Surrey
GU5 Ripley Surrey
GU7 Godalming Surrey
GU8 Witley Surrey
GU9 Farnham Surrey
GU10 Farnham Surrey
GU11 Aldershot Hampshire
GU12 Ash Surrey
GU14 Farnborough Hampshire
GU15 Camberley Surrey
GU16 Camberley Surrey
GU17 Blackwater and Hawley Hampshire
GU18 Windlesham Surrey
GU19 Windlesham Surrey
GU20 Windlesham Surrey
GU21 Woking Surrey
GU22 Woking Surrey
GU23 Ripley Surrey
GU24 Bisley Surrey
GU25 Virginia Water Surrey
GU26 Haslemere Surrey
GU27 Haslemere Surrey
GU28 Tillington West Sussex
GU29 Midhurst West Sussex
GU30 Liphook Hampshire
GU31 Petersfield Hampshire
GU32 Stroud Hampshire
GU33 Liss Hampshire
GU34 Alton Hampshire
GU35 Lindford Hampshire
GU46 Yateley Hampshire
GU47 Sandhurst Bracknell Forest
GU51 Fleet Hampshire
GU52 Fleet Hampshire
RG1 Reading Berkshire
RG2 Reading Berkshire
RG4 Reading Berkshire
RG5 Woodley Wokingham
RG6 Earley Wokingham
RG7 Sulhamstead West Berkshire
RG8 Whitchurch-on-Thames Oxfordshire
RG10 Twyford Wokingham
RG12 Bracknell Bracknell Forest
RG14 Newbury West Berkshire
RG18 Bucklebury West Berkshire
RG19 Thatcham West Berkshire
RG20 Newbury West Berkshire
RG21 Basingstoke Hampshire
RG22 Basingstoke Hampshire
RG23 Basingstoke Hampshire
RG24 Basingstoke Hampshire
RG25 Dummer Hampshire
RG26 Pamber Hampshire
RG27 Hook Hampshire
RG29 Odiham Hampshire
RG30 Reading Berkshire
RG31 Reading Berkshire
RG40 Wokingham Wokingham
RG41 Wokingham Wokingham
RG42 Warfield Bracknell Forest
RG45 Wokingham Without Wokingham
SL1 Colnbrook with Poyle Slough
SL2 Colnbrook with Poyle Slough
SL4 Windsor Windsor and Maidenhead
SL5 Sunninghill Windsor and Maidenhead
SL6 Maidenhead Windsor and Maidenhead
SO24 Bishops Sutton Hampshire
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Benson Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
HP10 Chepping Wycombe Buckinghamshire
HP11 High Wycombe Buckinghamshire
HP12 High Wycombe Buckinghamshire
HP13 High Wycombe Buckinghamshire
HP14 Bledlow-cum-Saunderton Buckinghamshire
HP15 Hazlemere Buckinghamshire
HP16 Great Missenden Buckinghamshire
HP17 Dinton Buckinghamshire
HP18 Ashendon Buckinghamshire
HP19 Aylesbury Buckinghamshire
HP20 Aylesbury Buckinghamshire
HP21 Aylesbury Buckinghamshire
HP22 Weston Turville Buckinghamshire
HP23 Tring Hertfordshire
HP27 Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire
HP5 Chesham Buckinghamshire
HP6 Amersham Buckinghamshire
HP7 Amersham Buckinghamshire
HP8 Chalfont St Giles Buckinghamshire
HP9 Beaconsfield Buckinghamshire
OX10 Wallingford Oxfordshire
OX33 Holton Oxfordshire
OX39 Chinnor Oxfordshire
OX44 Cuddesdon Oxfordshire
OX49 Watlington Oxfordshire
OX9 Thame Oxfordshire
RG9 Rotherfield Greys Oxfordshire
SL7 Marlow Buckinghamshire
SL8 Wooburn Buckinghamshire
SL9 Chalfont St Peter Buckinghamshire
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Woburn Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
MK1 Bletchley Milton Keynes
MK2 Bletchley Milton Keynes
MK3 Bletchley Milton Keynes
MK4 Shenley Brook End Milton Keynes
MK5 Shenley Church End Milton Keynes
MK6 Woughton On The Green Milton Keynes
MK7 Walton Milton Keynes
MK8 Bradwell Abbey Milton Keynes
MK9 Milton Keynes Milton Keynes
MK10 Milton Keynes Milton Keynes
MK11 Stony Stratford Milton Keynes
MK12 Stony Stratford Milton Keynes
MK13 Bradwell Milton Keynes
MK14 Stantonbury Milton Keynes
MK15 Willen Milton Keynes
MK16 Newport Pagnell Milton Keynes
MK17 Bow Brickhill Milton Keynes
MK19 Cosgrove Northamptonshire
MK40 Bedford Bedford Borough
MK41 Bedford Bedford Borough
MK42 Kempston Bedford Borough
MK43 Kempston Rural Bedford Borough
MK44 Wilden Bedford Borough
MK45 Maulden Central Bedfordshire
MK46 Clifton Reynes Milton Keynes
NN8 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
NN9 Irthlingborough Northamptonshire
NN10 Rushden Northamptonshire
NN29 Wollaston Northamptonshire
PE19 St Neots Cambridgeshire
SG5 Ickleford Hertfordshire
SG6 Hitchin Hertfordshire
SG7 Bygrave Hertfordshire
SG8 Melbourn Cambridgeshire
SG9 Buntingford Hertfordshire
SG10 Much Hadham Hertfordshire
SG11 Standon Hertfordshire
SG15 Arlesey Central Bedfordshire
SG16 Henlow Central Bedfordshire
SG17 Shefford Central Bedfordshire
SG18 Biggleswade Central Bedfordshire
SG19 Everton Central Bedfordshire
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Stowe Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
MK18 Buckingham Buckinghamshire
NN1 Northampton Northamptonshire
NN11 Badby Northamptonshire
NN12 Towcester Northamptonshire
NN13 Brackley Northamptonshire
NN2 Northampton Northamptonshire
NN3 Northampton Northamptonshire
NN4 Northampton Northamptonshire
NN5 Duston Northamptonshire
NN6 Spratton Northamptonshire
NN7 Northampton Northamptonshire
Cold Weather Payments Triggered by Tibenham Weather Station
Postcode Location Region
NR1 Norwich Norfolk
NR10 Hevingham Norfolk
NR11 Erpingham Norfolk
NR12 Smallburgh Norfolk
NR13 Blofield Norfolk
NR14 Alpington Norfolk
NR15 Hempnall Norfolk
NR16 Old Buckenham Norfolk
NR17 Attleborough Norfolk
NR18 Wymondham Norfolk
NR19 Scarning Norfolk
NR2 Norwich Norfolk
NR20 Swanton Morley Norfolk
NR21 Fakenham Norfolk
NR22 Walsingham Norfolk
NR23 Wells-next-the-Sea Norfolk
NR24 Briston Norfolk
NR25 Holt Norfolk
NR26 Sheringham Norfolk
NR27 Cromer Norfolk
NR28 North Walsham Norfolk
NR29 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
NR3 Norwich Norfolk
NR30 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
NR31 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
NR32 Oulton Broad Suffolk
NR33 Oulton Broad Suffolk
NR34 Weston Suffolk
NR35 Bungay Suffolk
NR4 Norwich Norfolk
NR5 Norwich Norfolk
NR6 Norwich Norfolk
NR7 Norwich Norfolk
NR8 Taverham Norfolk
NR9 Marlingford Norfolk
What to Do If You Don’t Receive a Cold Weather Payment?
If you believe you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but didn’t, there are a few steps you can take to investigate and resolve the issue.
First, check the official postcode checker tool on GOV.UK to confirm whether your area was triggered for payment.
If it was, and you’re eligible, you should:
- Contact the Pension Service (if you’re receiving Pension Credit) or
- Contact Jobcentre Plus (for JSA, ESA, Income Support)
- Log into your Universal Credit account and add a note to your journal if you’re a Universal Credit claimant. If you don’t have an online account, call the Universal Credit helpline.
Additionally, hospital stays may affect eligibility. Always inform your benefit office if you’re admitted, as this could impact whether payments are issued correctly. Ensure your benefit information is accurate and up to date to avoid missed payments.
Do Cold Weather Payments Apply in Scotland?
If you live in Scotland, you are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments. The scheme only applies to residents of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Instead, the Scottish Government provides a separate annual support called the Winter Heating Payment.
Key differences include:
- The Winter Heating Payment is not linked to temperature readings.
- It’s a flat-rate annual payment, regardless of how cold the weather gets.
- It is paid automatically to eligible individuals, similar to Cold Weather Payments.
This payment is designed to ensure that those on lower incomes or with additional needs can afford adequate heating throughout the colder months. It reflects Scotland’s shift toward simplified support systems that don’t rely on weather fluctuations. Scottish residents should check the mygov.scot website for Winter Heating Payment details and eligibility guidance.
How to Check If You’re in a DWP Cold Weather Payments Area?
You can easily find out whether your area has had Cold Weather Payments triggered using the official GOV.UK postcode checker tool. This tool is updated regularly with the latest information based on temperature data from local weather stations.
Here’s how to use it:
- Visit the Cold Weather Payment page on GOV.UK.
- Enter your postcode in the provided search box.
- You’ll instantly see whether your area has qualified and when the payment was triggered.
It’s best to check regularly during the winter season, especially after a prolonged period of cold weather. If your area qualifies, payments should arrive within 14 working days in your benefit account. This tool provides reassurance that your claim is on track and helps verify eligibility without needing to contact DWP directly.
Conclusion
The DWP Cold Weather Payment is a vital source of seasonal support for households on low income or qualifying benefits across the UK. As the cold winter stretches on, checking your area’s eligibility and understanding the triggers and payment process can help you stay financially supported during difficult weather conditions.
If you meet the criteria and your area experiences freezing temperatures, you will receive £25 per 7-day cold spell, paid automatically. Always ensure your benefit details are current, especially if your circumstances change. With over 450 areas and 670,000 households eligible, this winter relief could provide much-needed help when you need it most.
FAQs
How much is a DWP Cold Weather Payment worth?
Each payment is worth £25 per 7-day period of freezing temperatures in your area.
Can I get Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments together?
Yes, you can receive both if you qualify for each based on your age and benefits.
How do I know if my postcode is eligible?
Use the GOV.UK postcode checker to see if your area has triggered a payment.
Do I need to apply for the Cold Weather Payment?
No, payments are made automatically if you’re eligible.
Why didn’t I get a payment even though it’s freezing?
Payments are only made if your area’s linked weather station records or forecasts 0°C or below for 7 days.
Are hospital stays affecting my eligibility?
Yes, staying in hospital may temporarily affect your entitlement, so notify your benefit office.
Can working people get the payment on Universal Credit?
Usually not, unless they have a child under 5 or a disabled child and meet other conditions.
