Cold Weather Payments Triggered in Over 400 Postcodes – Check if You’re Eligible

The UK’s Cold Snap Brings Financial Assistance for Vulnerable Households

As the new year kicks off in a chilly manner, the UK government has stepped up to support residents facing harsh weather conditions. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that cold weather payments have been triggered in over 400 postcodes across the country, benefiting approximately 674,000 households.

Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell emphasized, “As temperatures plunge, Cold Weather Payments will automatically get support directly to vulnerable households. Combined with our Triple Lock commitment and the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, we’re ensuring pensioners get the support they need this winter.”

Cold Weather Payment Scheme Details

The cold weather payment scheme is designed to help households during periods of freezing temperatures. The DWP runs this one-off payment for every seven-day period where a postcode area experiences zero or sub-zero temperatures. This means that eligible households can receive multiple payments if the conditions persist over several weeks.

Eligibility and Payment Process

To be eligible, individuals must meet certain criteria such as receiving Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Additionally, those not receiving Pension Credit but have young children with disabilities, health conditions, or caring responsibilities may also qualify. The payment is issued automatically to the same bank account where benefit payments are received.

Those who believe they are eligible but haven’t received the payment can contact the DWP for assistance.

Timeline and Impact

The scheme runs from November 1st to March 31st each year. The affected areas include parts of England, Wales, and Scotland. However, those living in Scotland will not receive cold weather payments as the Scottish government has replaced it with its own annual Winter Heating Payments.

Example Postcodes Affected

The following postcodes are among those eligible for the cold weather payment during the period of December 30th to January 4th, 2026:

• CA9: Alston CA10: Penrith
• CA11: Penrith CA12: Keswick
• CA16: Appleby-in-Westmorland CA17: Kirkby Stephen
• DG14: Annan LA8: Kendal
• LA9: Kendal LA10: Sedbergh
• LA21: Grange-over-Sands LA22: Ambleside
• LA23: Windermere LL20: Llangollen
• LL21: Corwen LL23: Bala NE19: Wooler
• NE47: Hexham NE48: Bardon Mill
• NE49: Haltwhistle TD9: Hawick AL1: St Albans
• AL2: St Albans AL3: St Albans AL4: St Albans
• AL5: Harpenden AL6: Welwyn
• AL7: Welwyn Garden City AL8: Welwyn Garden City
• AL9: Hatfield AL10: Hatfield BB4: Rossendale
• BB8: Colne BB9: Nelson
• BB10: Burnley BB11: Burnley
• BB12: Burnley BB18: Barnoldswick
• BG1: Bradford BG2: Bradford
• BD4: Bradford BD5: Bradford
• BD6: Bradford BD7: Bradford
• BD8: Bradford BD9: Bradford
• BD10: Bradford BD11: Bradford
• BD13: Queensbury BD14: Clayton
• BD15: Allerton BD16: Bingley
• BD17: Shipley BD18: Shipley
• BD19: Cleckheaton BD20: Keighley
• BD21: Keighley BD22: Keighley
• BG4: Matlock BG6: Ashbourne
• BK5: Bakewell EN6: Potters Bar
• GU5: Guildford GU6: Cranleigh HD3: Huddersfield
• HD7: Huddersfield HD8: Huddersfield
• HD9: Holmfirth HP1: Hemel Hempstead
• HP2: Hemel Hempstead HP3: Hemel Hempstead
• HP4: Berkhamsted HP5: Chesham
• HP6: Amersham HP7: Amersham
• HP8: Chalfont St Giles HP9: Beaconsfield
• HP10: High Wycombe HP11: High Wycombe
• HP12: High Wycombe HP13: High Wycombe
• HP14: High Wycombe HP15: Hazlemere
• HP16: Great Missenden HP17: Aylesbury
• HP18: Aylesbury HP19: Aylesbury
• HP20: Aylesbury HP21: Aylesbury
• HP22: Aylesbury HP23: Tring
• HP27: Princes Risborough HX1: Halifax
• HX2: Halifax HX3: Halifax
• HX4: Halifax HX5: Elland
• HX6: Sowerby Bridge HX7: Hebden Bridge
• IP1: Ipswich IP2: Ipswich
• IP3: Ipswich IP4: Ipswich
• IP5: Ipswich IP6: Ipswich
• IP7: Ipswich IP8: Ipswich
• IP9: Ipswich IP10: Ipswich
• IP11: Felixstowe IP12: Woodbridge
• IP13: Woodbridge IP14: Stowmarket
• IP15: Aldeburgh IP16: Leiston
• IP17: Saxmundham IP18: Southwold
• IP19: Halesworth IP20: Harleston
• IP21: Eye IP22: Diss
• IP23: Eye IP29: Bury St Edmunds
• IP30: Bury St Edmunds IP31: Bury St Edmunds
• IP32: Bury St Edmunds IP33: Bury St Edmunds
• LS21: Otley LS29: Ilkley
• LH1: Luton LH2: Luton
• LH3: Luton LH4: Luton
• LH5: Dunstable LH6: Dunstable
• LH7: Leighton Buzzard ME6: Snodland
• ME14: Maidstone ME15: Maidstone
• ME16: Maidstone ME17: Maidstone
• ME18: West Malling ME19: West Malling
• ME20: Aylesford OL13: Bacup
• OL14: Todmorden OX9: Thame
• OX10: Wallingford OX33: Oxford
• OX39: Chinnor OX44: Oxford
• OX49: Watlington RG9: Henley-on-Thames
• RH1: Redhill RH2: Reigate
• RH3: Betchworth RH4: Dorking
• RH5: Ockley RH6: Horley
• RH7: Lingfield RH8: Oxted
• RH9: Godstone RH10: Crawley
• RH11: Crawley RH12: Horsham
• RH13: Horsham RH14: Billingshurst
• RH15: Burgess Hill RH16: Haywards Heath
• RH17: Haywards Heath RH18: Forest Row
• RH19: East Grinstead RH20: Pulborough S32: Hope Valley
• S33: Hope Valley S36: Sheffield
• SG1: Stevenage SG2: Stevenage
• SG3: Knebworth SG4: Hitchin
• SG5: Hitchin SG6: Letchworth Garden City
• SG7: Baldock SG8: Royston
• SG9: Buntingford SG10: Much Hadham
• SG11: Ware SG12: Ware
• SG13: Hertford SG14: Hertford
• SG15: Arlesey SG16: Henlow
• SG17: Shefford SG18: Biggleswade
• SG19: Sandy SK13: Glossop
• SK17: Buxton SK22: High Peak
• SK23: High Peak SL7: Marlow
• SL8: Bourne End SL9: Gerrards Cross
• ST8: Stoke-on-Trent ST9: Stoke-on-Trent
• ST10: Stoke-on-Trent ST11: Stoke-on-Trent
• ST13: Leek SY10: Oswestry
• SY15: Montgomery SY16: Newtown
• SY17: Caersws SY19: Shropshire
• SY21: Welshpool SY22: Shropshire
• TN1: Tunbridge Wells TN2: Tunbridge Wells
• TN3: Tunbridge Wells TN4: Tunbridge Wells
• TN5: Wadhurst TN6: Crowborough
• TN7: Hartfield TN8: Edenbridge
• TN9: Tonbridge TN10: Tonbridge
• TN11: Tonbridge TN12: Tonbridge
• TN13: Sevenoaks TN14: Sevenoaks
• TN15: Sevenoaks TN16: Westerham
• TN17: Cranbrook TN18: Cranbrook
• TN19: Etchingham TN20: Mayfield
• TN22: Uckfield TN27: Ashford
• WD3: Rickmansworth WD4: Kings Langley
• WD5: Abbots Langley WD6: Borehamwood
• WD7: Radlett WD17: Watford
• WD18: Watford WD19: Watford
• WD23: Bushey WD24: Watford
• WD25: Watford BD23: Skipton
• BG24: Settle CB1: Cambridge
• CB2: Cambridge CB3: Cambridge
• CB4: Cambridge CB5: Cambridge
• CB6: Ely CB7: Ely
• CB10: Saffron Walden CB11: Saffron Walden
• CB21: Cambridge CB22: Cambridge
• CB23: Cambridge CB24: Cambridge
• CB25: Cambridge CF37: Pontypridd
• CF38: Pontypridd CF39: Porth
• CW41: Pentre CW42: Treorchy
• CW43: Ferndale CW44: Aberdare
• CW45: Mountain Ash CW46: Treharris
• CW47: Merthyr Tydfil CW48: Merthyr Tydfil
• CF81: Bargoed CF82: Ystrad Mynach
• CF83: Caerphilly CM1: Chelmsford
• CM2: Chelmsford CM3: Chelmsford
• CM4: Ingatestone CM5: Ongar
• CM6: Dunmow CM7: Braintree
• CM8: Witham CM9: Maldon
• CM11: Billericay CM12: Billericay
• CM13: Brentwood CM14: Brentwood
• CM15: Brentwood CM16: Epping
• CM17: Harlow CM18: Harlow
• CM19: Harlow CM20: Harlow
• CM21: Sawbridgeworth CM22: Bishop’s Stortford
• CM23: Bishop’s Stortford CM24: Stansted
• CW77: Great Dunmow CO9: Halstead
• DH1: Durham DH6: Durham
• DH7: Durham DH8: Consett
• DH9: Stanley DL4: Shildon
• DL5: Newton Aycliffe DL8: Leyburn
• DL11: Richmond DL12: Barnard Castle
• DL13: Bishop Auckland DL14: Bishop Auckland
• DL15: Crook DL16: Spennymoor
• DL17: Ferryhill IP24: Thetford
• IP25: Thetford IP26: Thetford
• IP27: Brandon IP28: Mildenhall
• LH3: Brecon MK1: Milton Keynes
• MK2: Milton Keynes MK3: Milton Keynes
• MK4: Milton Keynes MK5: Milton Keynes
• MK6: Milton Keynes MK7: Milton Keynes
• MK8: Milton Keynes MK9: Milton Keynes
• MK10: Milton Keynes MK11: Milton Keynes
• MK12: Milton Keynes MK13: Milton Keynes
• MK14: Milton Keynes MK15: Milton Keynes
• MK16: Milton Keynes MK40: Bedford
• MK41: Bedford MK42: Bedford
• MK43: Bedford MK44: Bedford
• MK45: Bedford MK46: Olney NE18: Morpeth
• NE19: Wooler NE20: Newcastle upon Tyne
• NE44: Prudhoe NE45: Stocksfield
• NE46: Corbridge NE47: Hexham
• NE48: Bardon Mill NE49: Haltwhistle
• NN1: Northampton NN2: Northampton
• NN3: Northampton NN4: Northampton
• NN5: Northampton NN6: Northampton
• NN7: Northampton NN8: Wellingborough
• NN9: Wellingborough NN10: Rushden
• NN11: Daventry NN12: Towcester
• NN13: Brackley NN29: Wellingborough
• NP4: Pontypool NP11: Newport
• NW12: Blackwood NW13: Abertillery
• NW22: Tredegar NW23: Ebbw Vale
• NW24: New Tredegar NW44: Cwmbran
• NW1: Norwich NW2: Norwich
• NW3: Norwich NW4: Norwich
• NW5: Norwich NW6: Norwich
• NW7: Norwich NW8: Norwich
• NW9: Norwich NW10: Norwich
• NW11: Norwich NW12: Norwich
• NW13: Norwich NW14: Norwich
• NW15: Norwich NW16: Norwich
• NR1: Norwich NR2: Norwich
• NR3: Norwich NR4: Norwich
• NR5: Norwich NR6: Norwich
• NR7: Norwich NR8: Norwich
• NR9: Norwich NR10: Norwich
• NW11: Norwich NR12: Norwich
• NW13: Norwich NR14: Norwich
• NR15: Norwich NR16: Norwich
• NR17: Norwich NR18: Attleborough
• NR19: Wymondham NR20: Dereham
• NW21: Fakenham NR22: Wells-next-the-Sea
• NW23: Wells-next-the-Sea NW24: Melton Constable
• NW25: Holt NW26: Sheringham
• NW27: Cromer NW28: North Walsham
• NW29: Great Yarmouth NW30: Great Yarmouth
• NW31: Great Yarmouth NW32: Great Yarmouth
• NW33: Lowestoft NW34: Beccles
• NW35: Bungay PE12: Spalding
• PE13: Wisbech PE14: Wisbech
• PE19: St Neots PE30: King’s Lynn
• PE31: King’s Lynn PE32: King’s Lynn
• PE33: King’s Lynn PE34: King’s Lynn
• PE35: King’s Lynn PE36: Sandringham
• PE37: Swaffham PE38: Downham Market
• RN4: Romford SG10: Hitchin
• SG2: Letchworth Garden City SG3: Baldock
• SG4: Royston SG5: Buntingford
• SG6: Much Hadham SG7: Ware
• SG8: Henlow SG9: Shefford
• SG10: Sandy SK10: Hertford
• SK17: Buxton SK22: High Peak
• SL8: Marlow SL9: Gerrards Cross
• ST8: Stoke-on-Trent ST9: Stoke-on-Trent
• ST10: Stoke-on-Trent ST11: Stoke-on-Trent
• ST13: Leek SY10: Oswestry
• SY15: Montgomery SY16: Newtown
• SY17: Caersws SY19: Shropshire
• SY21: Welshpool SY22: Shropshire
• TN1: Tunbridge Wells TN2: Tunbridge Wells
• TN3: Tunbridge Wells TN4: Tunbridge Wells
• TN5: Wadhurst TN6: Crowborough
• TN7: Hartfield TN8: Edenbridge
• TN9: Tonbridge TN10: Tonbridge
• TN11: Tonbridge TN12: Tonbridge
• TN13: Sevenoaks TN14: Sevenoaks
• TN15: Sevenoaks TN16: Westerham
• TN17: Cranbrook TN18: Cranbrook
• TN19: Etchingham TN20: Mayfield
• TN22: Uckfield TN27: Ashford
• WD3: Rickmansworth WD4: Kings Langley
• WD5: Abbots Langley WD6: Borehamwood
• WD7: Radlett WD17: Watford
• WD18: Watford WD19: Watford
• WD23: Bushey WD24: Watford
• WD25: Watford BD23: Skipton
• BG24: Settle CB1: Cambridge
• CB2: Cambridge CB3: Cambridge
• CB4: Cambridge CB5: Cambridge
• CB6: Ely CB7: Ely
• CB10: Saffron Walden CB11: Saffron Walden
• CB21: Cambridge CB22: Cambridge
• CB23: Cambridge CB24: Cambridge
• CB25: Cambridge CF37: Pontypridd
• CF38: Pontypridd CF39: Porth
• CW41: Pentre CW42: Treorchy
• CW43: Ferndale CW44: Aberdare
• CW45: Mountain Ash CW46: Treharris
• CW47: Merthyr Tydfil CW48: Merthyr Tydfil
• CF81: Bargoed CF82: Ystrad Mynach
• CF83: Caerphilly CM1: Chelmsford
• CM2: Chelmsford CM3: Chelmsford
• CM4: Ingatestone CM5: Ongar
• CM6: Dunmow CM7: Braintree
• CM8: Witham CM9: Maldon
• CM11: Billericay CM12: Billericay
• CM13: Brentwood CM14: Brentwood
• CM15: Brentwood CM16: Epping
• CM17: Harlow CM18: Harlow
• CM19: Harlow CM20: Harlow
• CM21: Sawbridgeworth CM22: Bishop’s Stortford
• CM23: Bishop’s Stortford CM24: Stansted
• CW77: Great Dunmow CO9: Halstead
• DH1: Durham DH6: Durham
• DH7: Durham DH8: Consett
• DH9: Stanley DL4: Shildon
• DL5: Newton Aycliffe DL8: Leyburn
• DL11: Richmond DL12: Barnard Castle
• DL13: Bishop Auckland DL14: Bishop Auckland
• DL15: Crook DL16: Spennymoor
• DL17: Ferryhill IP24: Thetford
• IP25: Thetford IP26: Thetford
• IP27: Brandon IP28: Mildenhall
• LH3: Brecon MK1: Milton Keynes
• MK2: Milton Keynes MK3: Milton Keynes
• MK4: Milton Keynes MK5: Milton Keynes
• MK6: Milton Keynes MK7: Milton Keynes
• MK8: Milton Keynes MK9: Milton Keynes
• MK10: Milton Keynes MK11: Milton Keynes
• MK12: Milton Keynes MK13: Milton Keynes
• MK14: Milton Keynes MK15: Milton Keynes
• MK16: Milton Keynes MK40: Bedford
• MK41: Bedford MK42: Bedford
• MK43: Bedford MK44: Bedford
• MK45: Bedford MK46: Olney NE18: Morpeth
• NE19: Wooler NE20: Newcastle upon Tyne
• NE44: Prudhoe NE45: Stocksfield
• NE46: Corbridge NE47: Hexham
• NE48: Bardon Mill NE49: Haltwhistle
• NN1: Northampton NN2: Northampton
• NN3: Northampton NN4: Northampton
• NN5: Northampton NN6: Northampton
• NN7: Northampton NN8: Wellingborough
• NN9: Wellingborough NN10: Rushden
• NN11: Daventry NN12: Towcester
• NN13: Brackley NN29: Wellingborough
• NP4: Pontypool NP11: Newport
• NW12: Blackwood NW13: Abertillery
• NW22: Tredegar NW23: Ebbw Vale
• NW24: New Tredegar NW44: Cwmbran
• NW1: Norwich NW2: Norwich
• NW3: Norwich NW4: Norwich
• NW5: Norwich NW6: Norwich
• NW7: Norwich NW8: Norwich
• NW9: Norwich NW10: Norwich
• NW11: Norwich NW12: Norwich
• NW13: Norwich NW14: Norwich
• NW15: Norwich NW16: Norwich
• NR1: Norwich NR2: Norwich
• NR3: Norwich NR4: Norwich
• NR5: Norwich NR6: Norwich
• NR7: Norwich NR8: Norwich
• NR9: Norwich NR10: Norwich
• NW11: Norwich NR12: Norwich
• NW13: Norwich NR14: Norwich
• NR15: Norwich NR16: Norwich
• NR17: Norwich NR18: Attleborough
• NR19: Wymondham NR20: Dereham
• NW21: Fakenham NR22: Wells-next-the-Sea
• NW23: Wells-next-the-Sea NW24: Melton Constable
• NW25: Holt NW26: Sheringham
• NW27: Cromer NW28: North Walsham
• NW29: Great Yarmouth NW30: Great Yarmouth
• NW31: Great Yarmouth NW32: Great Yarmouth
• NW33: Lowestoft NW34: Beccles
• NW35: Bungay PE12: Spalding
• PE13: Wisbech PE14: Wisbech
• PE19: St Neots PE30: King’s Lynn
• PE31: King’s Lynn PE32: King’s Lynn
• PE33: King’s Lynn PE34: King’s Lynn
• PE35: King’s Lynn PE36: Sandringham
• PE37: Swaffham PE38: Downham Market
• RN4: Romford SG10: Hitchin
• SG2: Letchworth Garden City SG3: Baldock
• SG4: Royston SG5: Buntingford
• SG6: Much Hadham SG7: Shefford
• SG8: Biggleswade SG9: Sandy SK10: Hertford
• SK17: Buxton SK22: High Peak
• SL8: Marlow SL9: Gerrards Cross
• ST8: Stoke-on-Trent ST9: Stoke-on-Trent
• ST10: Stoke-on-Trent ST11: Stoke-on-Trent
• ST13: Leek SY10: Oswestry
• SY15: Montgomery SY16: Newtown
• SY17: Caersws SY19: Shropshire
• SY21: Welshpool SY22: Shropshire
• TN1: Tunbridge Wells TN2: Tunbridge Wells
• TN3: Tunbridge Wells TN4: Tunbridge Wells
• TN5: Wadhurst TN6: Crowborough
• TN7: Hartfield TN8: Edenbridge
• TN9: Tonbridge TN10: Tonbridge
• TN11: Tonbridge TN12: Tonbridge
• TN13: Sevenoaks TN14: Sevenoaks
• TN15: Sevenoaks TN16: Westerham
• TN17: Cranbrook TN18: Cranbrook
• TN19: Etchingham TN20: Mayfield
• TN22: Uckfield TN27: Ashford
• WD3: Rickmansworth WD4: Kings Langley
• WD5: Abbots Langley WD6: Borehamwood
• WD7: Radlett WD17: Watford
• WD18: Watford WD19: Watford
• WD23: Bushey WD24: Watford
• WD25: Watford BD23: Skipton
• BG24: Settle CB1: Cambridge
• CB2: Cambridge CB3: Cambridge
• CB4: Cambridge CB5: Cambridge
• CB6: Ely CB7: Ely
• CB10: Saffron Walden CB11: Saffron Walden
• CB21: Cambridge CB22: Cambridge
• CB23: Cambridge CB24: Cambridge
• CB25: Cambridge CF37: Pontypridd
• CF38: Pontypridd CF39: Porth
• CW41: Pentre CW42: Treorchy
• CW43: Ferndale CW44: Aberdare
• CW45: Mountain Ash CW46: Treharris
• CW47: Merthyr Tydfil CW48: Merthyr Tydfil
• CF81: Bargoed CF82: Ystrad Mynach

Impact and Future Considerations

The cold weather payments scheme is a crucial financial support mechanism for vulnerable households during harsh winter conditions. The Department for Work and Pensions’ commitment to issuing these one-off payments demonstrates the government’s dedication to supporting those most affected by the cold snap.

The eligibility criteria ensure that assistance reaches those who need it the most, including pensioners, low-income families, and individuals with health conditions or caring responsibilities. As the UK continues to experience unpredictable weather patterns, such schemes become increasingly important in safeguarding the welfare of its residents.

Experts recommend that households take proactive measures to stay warm during cold snaps, such as using additional layers, keeping heating systems well-maintained, and taking advantage of energy-saving tips provided by local authorities. By combining government support with personal preparedness, vulnerable households can better weather the winter months.