Cold weather payments from the Department for Work and Pensions are available to millions of people
We outline who is eligible and how to determine whether a payment is due as the program comes to an end this winter on March 31.
The government has distributed nearly 10.5 million cold weather payments to households in various regions of England and Wales since November 2024.
The purpose of the 25 payments is to assist vulnerable and low-income households in covering their energy costs during below-freezing temperatures.
It is not included in the Winter Fuel Payment. The temperature where you live will determine whether you receive a cold weather payment if you are claiming Pension Credit.
When the cold snap wreaked havoc at the beginning of this year, in January, certain postcodes were eligible for a payment.
However, official figures show that the government did not pay out cold weather benefits in February because temperatures did not drop below freezing for a sufficient amount of time.
The plan is valid through the end of this month. Even though it feels like spring is here as we move into March and have some nice weather, there's a chance that some regions of the nation may see another cold spell.
For instance, in mid-March, the Met Office's long-range weather forecast for Cumbria indicates that there may be "a good deal of dry weather which leads to a downturn in temperatures with a low chance of a colder spell and wintry hazards." It also states: "In late March, there is still a chance of some colder spells.
We describe who is eligible for cold weather payments, how they are made, and how they operate.
Who is qualified for a payment for cold weather?
One government benefit is cold weather payments. When it gets really cold outside, the funds are meant to help with gas and electricity bills.
Approximately 4.1 million people are qualified for them. The most recent data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that 11.4 million payments have been made thus far between November 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025. The plan is in effect until March 31. Only 8,000 of them were paid to households in Wales; the majority were made to individuals in England.
There have been hundreds of postcodes affected by 33 "cold weather triggers" so far this winter. Thirty of them took place in January, and three occurred in November. More triggers have been recorded at the Shap, Cumbria, weather station than at any other station, which means that nearby eligible residents will have received three payments.
In order to receive the cold weather payment, you need to be receiving one of the following benefits.
Pension Credit Income support Universal Credit Support for Mortgage Interest Income-based jobseekers' allowance Income-related employment and support allowance Additional requirements vary based on the benefits you receive. To be eligible for Universal Credit, for instance, you and your partner must not be self-employed or employed, have a child under five living with you, or have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work.
Pension Credit recipients typically receive cold weather benefits. Pension Credit is received by nearly 1 in 2 million people, or more than 25% of those who are eligible for cold weather payments.
How can I determine whether I have to pay for cold weather?
To find out which regions are currently eligible for cold weather payments, check the online postcode checker if you live in England or Wales.
To find out whether your postcode is eligible for a 25 payment, use NIDirect if you reside in Northern Ireland.
In contrast, the winter heating payment, which is worth 58.75 and is not dependent on weather, may be given to people on low incomes and benefits in Scotland.
What is the payment for cold weather?
Each cold weather payment has a value of £25 and is given for a period of seven days. You might get multiple during a particularly frigid winter.
If the average temperature in your region is zero degrees Celsius or lower for seven consecutive days, or is predicted to be so, you will be compensated.
The current plan is valid from November 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
There have already been multiple cold weather payments this winter in some places.
How can I submit a cold weather payment claim?
You don't need to apply if you qualify because the payments are made automatically.
The money will be deposited into the bank or building society account where you receive your benefit payments in 14 working days.
"I believe I should have received a payment for the cold weather, but I haven't gotten anything."
If you think you meet the eligibility requirements and payments have been triggered in your area (you can use the postcode checker on gov . uk), but you haven't received a payment yet, get in touch with the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
"Cold weather benefits are not available to me.
What other resources are available to help with energy bills? Energy bills are putting a strain on many households. The Ofgem energy price cap, which sets the price that consumers on variable tariffs must pay, increased by 1% on New Year's Day and is expected to increase by a larger than anticipated 6% on April Fools' Day.
If you're having trouble, make sure you're getting all the benefits you're eligible for. Every year, the government loses millions of pounds in unclaimed funds.
For instance, you will be eligible for cold weather payments, the Winter Fuel Payment, and assistance with NHS expenses if your application for Pension Credit is approved.
Look for assistance from your energy provider if you're having trouble paying your bills. It might provide grants, a bill reduction, or an extension on the payment schedule, for instance.
In our guide "Should you switch to a fixed energy tariff" we discuss getting off a variable rate.
Postcodes that have received cold weather payments in 2024 - 2025 are listed in full.
The complete list of postcodes where a cold weather payment has been triggered this winter has been made public by the DWP.
The week ending January 17, which saw 21 triggers, saw the great majority of payments (1.02 million).
On Sunday, November 17th.
The Eskdalemuir is DG14, TD9.
LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, and CA17 are the shapes.
Monday, November 18.
CA9, NE19, NE47, NE48, and NE49 are Redesdale.
Thursday, January 2.
Eskdalemuir: TD9, DG14.
Resdale: CA9, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49.
Shape: CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, and LA23.
Saturday, January 4.
BD23, BD24, DL8, DL11, DL12, and DL13 are Bainbridge.
BB4, BB8, BB9, BB10, BB11, BB12, BB18, BD1, BD2, BD3, BD4, BD5, BD6, BD7, 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.
Thursday, January 9.
DH1, DH6, DH7, DH8, DH9, DL4, DL5, DL14, DL15, DL16, DL17, NE18, NE20, NE44, NE45, NE46, TS21, TS28, TS29, and DL4 are all considered albes.
SK13, SK17, SK22, SK23, ST8, ST9, ST10, ST11, ST13, DE4, DE6, DE45, S32, S33, Leek Thorncliffe.
Saturday, January 10.
TD5, TD12, TD15, NE71, Charterhall.
LL20, LL21, LL23, SY10, SY15, SY16, SY17, SY19, SY21, SY22, Lake Vyrnwy.
On Saturday, January 11th...
CA1, DG16, CA2, CA3, CA4, CA5, CA6, CA7, and CA8 in Carlisle.
SK10, SK11, ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7, ST12, ST14, ST15, ST16, ST17, ST18, ST19, ST20, and ST21 are among the Keele.
Leeming: TS9, TS15, TS16, YO7, DL1, DL2, DL3, DL6, DL7, DL9, DL10.
Llysdinam: SY7, SY9, SY18, LD1, LD2, LD4, LD5, LD6, LD7, LD8, SA19, SA20.
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.
January 12th, Sunday.
Rochdale: M24, M26, OL1, OL2, OL3, OL4, OL5, OL6, OL7, OL8, OL9, OL10, OL11, OL12, OL15, OL16, SK15, BL0, BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, BL5, BL6, BL7, BL8, BL9.
Shawbury: TF1, TF2, TF3, TF4, TF5, TF6, TF7, TF8, TF9, TF10, TF11, TF12, TF13, SY1, SY2, SY3, SY4, SY5, SY6, SY11, SY12, SY13.
BB1, BB2, BB3, BB5, BB6, BB7, FY8, LA2, LA6, LA7, PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PR5, PR6, PR25, PR26, Stonyhurst.
On Monday, January 13.
Benson, HP5, HP6, HP7, HP8, HP9, HP10, HP11, HP12, HP13, HP14, HP15, HP16, HP17, HP18, HP19, HP20, HP21, HP22, HP27, OX9, OX10, OX33, OX39, OX44, OX49, RG9, SL7, SL8, SL9.
HG1, HG2, HG3, HG4, HG5, LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, LS5, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, LS10, LS11, LS12, LS13, LS14, LS15, LS16, LS17, LS18, LS19, LS20, LS22, LS23, LS24, LS25, LS26, LS27, LS28, YO1, YO8, YO10, YO19, YO23, YO26, YO30, YO31, YO32, YO41, YO42, YO43, YO51, YO60, YO61.
Coleshill: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31, B32, B33, B34, B35, B36, B37, B38, B40, B42, B43, B44, B45, B46, B47, B48, B49, B50, B60, B61, B62, B63, B64, B65, B66, B67, B68, B69, B70, B71, B72, B73, B74, B75, B76, B77, B78, B79, B80, B90, B91, B92, B93, B94, B95, B96, B97, B98, CV1, CV2, CV3, CV4, CV5, CV6, CV7, CV8, CV9, CV10, CV11, CV12, CV21, CV22, CV23, CV31, CV32, CV33, CV34, CV35, CV37, CV47, DY1, DY2, DY3, DY4, DY5, DY6, DY7, DY8, DY9, DY10, DY11, DY12, DY13, DY14, LE10, WS1, WS2, WS3, WS4, WS5, WS6, WS7, WS8, WS9, WS10, WS11, WS12, WS13, WS14, WS15, WV1, WV2, WV3, WV4, WV5, WV6, WV7, WV8, WV9, WV10, WV11, WV12, WV13, WV14, WV15, WV16.
Little Rissington: OX7, OX15, OX16, OX17, WR12, CV36, GL54, GL55, GL56.
Marham: PE12, PE13, PE14, PE30, PE31, PE32, PE33, PE34, PE35, PE36, PE37, PE38, CB6, CB7, IP24, IP25, IP26, IP27, IP28.
MK18, NN1, NN2, NN3, NN4, NN5, NN6, NN7, NN11, NN12, and NN13 were stored.
PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7, PE8, PE9, PE15, PE16, PE17, PE26, PE27, PE28, and PE29 are Wittering's names.
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, SM5, SG6, SG7, SG15, SG16, SG17, SG18, SG19.
Tuesday, January 14. .
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.
Brize Norton: OX3, OX4, OX5, OX6, OX8, OX11, OX12, OX13, OX14, OX18, OX20, OX25, OX26, OX27, OX28, OX29, SN7.
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, TN17, TN17, TN18, TN19, TN20, TN22, TN27.
NR1, NR2, NR3, NR4, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8, NR9, NR10, NR11, NR12, NR13, NR14, NR15, NR16, NR18, NR19, NR20, NR21, NR22, NR23, NR24, NR25, NR26, NR27, NR28, NR29, NR30, NR31, NR32, NR33, NR34, NR35.
January 16th, Thursday.
Shape: LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, and CA17.
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