Cold weather payment triggered in nearly 700 postcodes – check if you’re eligible

The new year is off to a chilly start, with freezing temperatures dropping to -12C in some areas across the UK.

The Met Office has weather warnings for snow and ice in the first weeks of 2026, amid fears of health problems arising from the conditions. Forecaster recorded coldest night this month; Many areas in the Scottish Highlands, Norfolk and Suffolk reached below -10C as the icy blast hit the UK.

To support people during cold weather like this, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is running a cold weather payment scheme for eligible households. This is a one-off payment of £25 that is triggered for every seven-day period when the temperature in an area is zero degrees or below.

It is estimated that more than 700,000 households in the 697 postcode area will now receive a payment; These areas are divided across the UK, including parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Triggers have occurred for 6 days (December 30, January 1, January 2, January 3, January 6 and January 7) due to the sub-zero temperatures experienced across the country since November 1.

The postcode areas affected for the period 30 December 2025 to 7 January 2026 are:

Postcodes in Northern Ireland where payment is triggered are: BT24, BT25, BT26, BT30, BT31, BT32, BT33 and BT34.

Pensions Minister Torsten Bell said: “As temperatures drop, cold weather payments will automatically receive direct support to vulnerable households.

“Together with the biggest ever pension credit raising campaign and our triple key commitment to increase the state pension by up to £2,100 this parliament, we are ensuring pensioners get the support they need this winter.”

The program is valid from 1 November to 31 March every year. The payment is paid for each period in which a zip code area experiences freezing temperatures for seven or more days; This means households can receive more than one payment. Many people living in the Lake District received three grants worth £75 last year.

Am I eligible for a cold weather payment?

Those eligible for a cold weather payment must receive at least one of the following:

Those who do not receive pension credit will also need to have a health condition, caring responsibilities or young or disabled children.

They also need to live in an area that experiences zero or sub-zero temperatures for seven days.

DWP uses its own equipment to measure temperatures in all postcodes in the UK. Those who do not agree with the decision can appeal directly to the ministry.

Although the affected areas include parts of Scotland, there will be no cold weather payments for those living in the country. The Scottish government changed this plan annually. winter heating payments.

When will I receive payment?

Those who are eligible will receive the payment automatically. They must contact the bank account from which they received their benefit payments with the payment reference “DWP CWP” within 14 working days of the cold spell.

Those who think they are eligible but have not received payment should contact the DWP.

Complete list of eligible postal codes

Below is the full list of more than 400 zip codes eligible for cold weather payments:

Two payments (£50):

One payment (£25):