The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has activated its Cold Weather Payment scheme across hundreds of UK postcodes as a severe cold snap takes hold. An estimated 674,000 households are set to receive an automatic £25 payment to help with heating costs during the freeze.
Widespread Support as Mercury Plummets
The payments have been triggered in 441 postcodes across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This follows Met Office alerts for snow and ice, with temperatures forecast to drop as low as -5°C in many areas. Some regions are braced for nearly half a metre of snow, prompting concerns over soaring energy bills as households crank up their heating.
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell stated: "As temperatures plunge, Cold Weather Payments will automatically get support directly to vulnerable households." He linked this support to wider government measures, including the Pension Credit campaign and the Triple Lock on state pensions.
Who is Eligible for the Payment?
The £25 payment is not universal. It is targeted at specific groups receiving certain benefits. Eligibility is automatic for qualifying households in the triggered postcodes; they do not need to apply.
The support is available to people receiving:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
Full List of Eligible Postcodes
The DWP recently extended the scheme by 187 postcode areas, bringing the total to 441. The following postcodes are now eligible for the cold weather support payment. A further 18 postcodes in Cumbria, the Lake District, Northumberland, and the Scottish Borders had the payment triggered on December 30.
Eligible Postcodes: AL5, AL6, AL7, AL8, AL9, AL10, BB4, BB8, BB9, BB10, BB11, BB12, BB18, BD1-BD9, BD10, BD11, BD12, BD13, BD14, BD15, BD16, BD17, BD18, BD19, BD20, BD21, BD22, BD23, BD24, BN5, BN6, BN44, CB1-CB5, CB6, CB7, CB8, CB9, CB10, CB11, CB21-CB25, CF37, CF38, CF39-CF43, CF44, CF45, CF46-CF48, CF81-CF83, CM1-CM3, CM4, CM5, CM6, CM7, CM77, CM8, CM9, CM11, CM12, CM13-CM15, CM17-CM20, CM21-CM24, CO1-CO4, CO5, CO6, CO7, CO8, CO10, CO9, CO11, CO12, CO13-CO16, DE4, DE6, DE45, DH1, DH6, DH7, DH8, DH9, DL4, DL5, DL8, DL11, DL12, DL13-DL15, DL16, DL17, EN6, GU5, GU6, HD3, HD7-HD9, HP1-HP3, HP4, HP5, HP6-HP9, HP10-HP15, HP17-HP22, HP23, HP27, HX1-HX7, IP1-IP10, IP11, IP12, IP13, IP14, IP15-IP19, IP20-IP23, IP24-IP27, IP28-IP33, LD3, LS21, LS29, LU1-LU4, LU5, LU6, LU7, ME6, ME14-ME17, ME18-ME20, MK1-MK15, MK16-MK19, MK40-MK45, MK46, NE18, NE20, NE44-NE46, NN1-NN7, NN8-NN10, NN11-NN13, NN29, NP4, NP44, NP11-NP13, NP22-NP24, NR1-NR8, NR9-NR11, NR12-NR15, NR16-NR18, NR19-NR20, NR21-NR25, NR26-NR28, NR29-NR31, NR32-NR35, OL13, OL14, OX9, OX10, OX33, OX39, OX44, OX49, PE12-PE14, PE19, PE30-PE38, RG9, RH1-RH3, RH4, RH5, RH6, RH7-RH9, RH10-RH11, RH12-RH14, RH15-RH17, RH18-RH20, RM4, S32-S36, SG1-SG4, SG5-SG9, SG10-SG14, SG15-SG19, SK13, SK17, SK22, SK23, SL7-SL9, ST8-ST13, TN1-TN7, TN8-TN11, TN12-TN15, TN16-TN20, TN22, TN27, TS21, TS28, TS29, WD3-WD7, WD17-WD19, WD23-WD25.
Additional Postcodes (triggered 30 Dec): CA9, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49, DG14, TD9.
The payments are designed to provide timely assistance during the coldest weeks of winter, offering crucial support for vulnerable residents facing the dual challenge of extreme weather and high living costs.
