DWP Cold Weather Payments – where to check your postcode eligibility | UK | News
As Britons struggled with icy conditions last week, the Met Office issued snow and ice warnings in several parts of the country. Despite this inconvenience, there is a silver lining as you may still be eligible for certain Government payments, provided you meet the necessary criteria.
‘Cold Weather Payments’ are additional benefits provided to people receiving certain financial support during extremely cold weather. These are usually distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when the average temperature in your area is recorded or predicted to be at or below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days.
Generally, those eligible will receive £25 for every seven-day period of severe cold weather occurring between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026. People in England and Wales may be eligible for Cold Weather Payments if they receive other financial assistance, including:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Mortgage Interest Support
However, whether you qualify depends largely on your personal circumstances. For example, if you are claiming Universal Credit, neither you nor your partner need to be working or ‘self-employed’ to be eligible for help.
Official advice on GOV.UK explains: “You can receive Cold Weather Payments if you meet the following conditions: certain benefits or Mortgage Interest Assistance. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive these payments automatically. You don’t need to apply, but you may need to Notify Jobcentre Plus if you have a baby or a child under five comes to live with you. Payments do not affect your other benefits.”
Those wishing to determine whether their location in English or Wales is eligible for Cold Weather Payments can contact the UK Government zip code tool to find your address. To verify your eligibility and criteria for Cold Weather Payments in Northern Ireland go to: NI Direct website. if you’re alive ScotlandYou are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments but may receive an annual payment. Winter Heating Payment in its place.
Cold Weather Payments are already enabled in England and Wales
Mirror On January 7 it was reported that the DWP had activated Cold Weather Payments for around 250 postcode areas. As a result, it is estimated that at least more than half a million households will qualify for this extra financial assistance.
Affected areas Large ManchesterCumbria, Gloucestershire, as well as parts of Wales and Northern Ireland. Below is a list of postcodes included in this:
- CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4, CA5, CA6, CA7, CA8, DG16, BH1, BH2, BH3, BH4, BH5, BH6, BH7, BH8, BH9, BH10, BH11, BH12, BH13, BH14, BH15, BH16, BH17, BH18, BH19, BH20, BH21, BH22, BH23, BH24, BH25, BH31, DT1, DT2, DT11, SP6, CW1, CW2, CW3, CW5, CW12, SK10, SK11, ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7, ST12, ST14, ST15, ST16, ST17, ST18, ST19, ST20, ST21, CV36, GL54, GL55, GL56, OX7, OX15, OX16, OX17, WR12, LD1, LD2, LD4, LD5, LD6, LD7, LD8, SA19, SA20, SY7, SY9, SY18, BL0, BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, BL5, BL6, BL7, BL8, BL9, M24, M26, OL1, OL2, OL3, OL4, OL5, OL6, OL7, OL8, OL9, OL10, OL11, OL12, OL15, OL16, SK15, 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, SY1, SY2, SY3, SY4, SY5, SY6, SY11, SY12, SY13, TF1, TF2, TF3, TF4, TF5, TF6, TF7, TF8, TF9, TF10, TF11, TF12, TF13, LE15, NN14, NN15, NN16, NN17, NN18, PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7, PE8, PE9, PE15, PE16, PE26, PE27, PE28, PE29, BT24, BT25, BT26, BT30, BT31, BT32, BT33, BT34.
For more information, visit: UK Government website here.
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