DWP Cold Weather Payment triggered in 441 parts of the UK - full list of postcodes due £25 payment

Temie Laleye

By Temie Laleye,

Published: 04/01/2026

- 09:00

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Freezing temperatures sweeping across Britain have prompted the Department for Work and Pensions to activate cold weather payments in 441 postcode areas.

Around 674,000 households throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland now qualify for the £25 support payment following the bitter conditions.

The scheme provides automatic financial assistance when temperatures in a given area drop to zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.

Met Office warnings for snow and ice remain active during the opening week of 2026, with regions from Bradford to Norwich among those where eligible residents can expect money to arrive in their accounts shortly.

Those receiving Pension Credit are typically eligible for the payment automatically.

Recipients of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest may also qualify, though additional criteria often apply.

For claimants not on Pension Credit, eligibility generally requires having a health condition or disability, caring responsibilities, or children who are either under five years old or disabled.

Universal Credit recipients must have no adults in their household who are employed or self-employed, alongside meeting one of the additional conditions such as limited capability for work or having a young child at home.

Residents can verify whether their postcode qualifies by using the DWP's online checker at coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk. The tool allows users to select their nation and enter their postcode to discover if payments have been triggered in their area.

Pensioner DWP

Residents can verify whether their postcode qualifies by using the DWP's online checker

| GETTY

Below is the full list of over 400 postcodes eligible for the cold weather payment:

DWP

The £25 should reach accounts within 14 working days of the cold period being recorded

| PA

Those who are eligible need not take any action to receive the money, as it arrives automatically in the same bank or building society account where benefits are paid.

The £25 should reach accounts within 14 working days of the cold period being recorded, appearing with the reference 'DWP CWP'.

Anyone who believes they should have received a payment but has not can contact the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469 or their local Jobcentre. Universal Credit claimants can raise the issue through their online journal.

Pensions Minister Torsten Bell said: "As temperatures plunge, Cold Weather Payments will automatically get support directly to vulnerable households.

Woman feeling cold and freezing weather

Cold Weather Payments could be triggered as freezing weather hits Britain | GETTY

"Combined with the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign and our Triple Lock commitment - set to increase the State Pension by up to £2,100 over this Parliament - we're ensuring pensioners get the support they need this Winter."

The scheme operates from 1 November through to 31 March each year, meaning further cold snaps could trigger additional payments.

There is no cap on the number of payments households can receive. Some residents in the Lake District received three separate payments last year, totalling £75.

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