Cold weather payments triggered as icy conditions hit UK

As the UK shivers in sub-zero conditions, the government is offering support to low-income households to help them stay warm.

Written by: James Glynn

Senior financial content writer

Published: 6 January 2026

Freezing temperatures have led to the Met Office issuing snow and ice warnings for much of the country, as well as travel disruption and school closures.

When it gets this cold, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issues cold weather payments to help low-income or eligible households.

A cold weather payment is a one-off payment of £25 made for every seven-day period when temperatures in your area are at or below zero degrees.

How do I claim the cold weather payment?

If you’re eligible for the payment, you’ll receive it automatically.

It’ll be paid directly into your bank account within 14 working days of the cold period.

Around 674,000 households from more than 441 postcode areas should expect a payment soon.

Which postcodes qualify?

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
BD1: Bradford
BD2: Bradford
BD3: Bradford
BD4: Bradford
BD5: Bradford
BD6: Bradford
BD7: Bradford
BD8: Bradford
BD9: Bradford
BD10: Bradford
BD11: Bradford
BD12: Bradford
BD13: Queensbury
BD14: Clayton
BD15: Allerton
BD16: Bingley
BD17: Shipley
BD18: Shipley
BD19: Cleckheaton
BD20: Keighley
BD21: Keighley
BD22: Keighley
BN5: Henfield
BN6: Hassocks
BN44: Steyning
CB8: Newmarket
CB9: Haverhill
CO1: Colchester
CO2: Colchester
CO3: Colchester
CO4: Colchester
CO5: Colchester
CO6: Colchester
CO7: Colchester
CO8: Bures
CO9: Halstead
CO10: Sudbury
CO11: Manningtree
CO12: Harwich
CO13: Frinton-on-Sea
CO14: Walton-on-the-Naze
CO15: Clacton-on-Sea
CO16: Clacton-on-Sea
DE4: Matlock
DE6: Ashbourne
DE45: 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
LU1: Luton
LU2: Luton
LU3: Luton
LU4: Luton
LU5: Dunstable
LU6: Dunstable
LU7: 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
BD24: 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
CF40: Tonypandy
CF41: Pentre
CF42: Treorchy
CF43: Ferndale
CF44: Aberdare
CF45: Mountain Ash
CF46: Treharris
CF47: Merthyr Tydfil
CF48: 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
CM77: 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
LD3: 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: Newport Pagnell
MK17: Milton Keynes
MK18: Buckingham
MK19: 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
NP12: Blackwood
NP13: Abertillery
NP22: Tredegar
NP23: Ebbw Vale
NP24: New Tredegar
NP44: Cwmbran
NR1: Norwich
NR2: Norwich
NR3: Norwich
NR4: Norwich
NR5: Norwich
NR6: Norwich
NR7: Norwich
NR8: Norwich
NR9: Norwich
NR10: Norwich
NR11: Norwich
NR12: Norwich
NR13: Norwich
NR14: Norwich
NR15: Norwich
NR16: Norwich
NR17: Attleborough
NR18: Wymondham
NR19: Dereham
NR20: Dereham
NR21: Fakenham
NR22: Wells-next-the-Sea
NR23: Wells-next-the-Sea
NR24: Melton Constable
NR25: Holt
NR26: Sheringham
NR27: Cromer
NR28: North Walsham
NR29: Great Yarmouth
NR30: Great Yarmouth
NR31: Great Yarmouth
NR32: Lowestoft
NR33: Lowestoft
NR34: Beccles
NR35: 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: Sandringham
PE36: Hunstanton
PE37: Swaffham
PE38: Downham Market
RM4: Romford
SG5: Hitchin
SG6: Letchworth Garden City
SG7: Baldock
SG8: Royston
SG9: Buntingford
SG10: Much Hadham
SG11: Ware
SG15: Arlesey
SG16: Henlow
SG17: Shefford
SG18: Biggleswade
SG19: Sandy
TS21: Stockton-on-Tees
TS28: Wingate
TS29: Trimdon Station

Who can get a cold weather payment?

You don’t need to apply, as payments are made automatically if you qualify.

You may be eligible if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and you receive certain benefits, including:

universal credit
pension credit
income support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
support for mortgage interest

If you’re on universal credit, you usually qualify if you have:

a child under five, or
a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work

The payment is tax-free, doesn’t affect your other benefits, and is paid into the same account as your regular benefits.

How to check if your area qualifies

Even if your postcode isn’t listed above, it’s still worth checking.

Cold weather payments can be triggered any time up until the end of March.

You can use the government’s cold weather payment postcode checker to see if a payment has been triggered where you live.

If you think you should have received a payment but haven’t:

universal credit claimants can leave a note in their online journal
others should contact their benefit office or the Pension Service

What else can I do to stay warm?

Cold weather payments help, but they’re just one part of managing winter costs.

When temperatures plummet, it’s worth taking steps like:

using a hot water bottle
having lots of hot drinks
wearing slippers and layering up
use draft excluders and thick curtains to keep warmth in
talk to your energy supplier about payment plans or hardship support
check what other help you’re entitled to, such as the warm home discount or household support fund

We’ve got tons more tips on staying warm and healthy without putting the heating on, plus 50 ways you can save energy.

Written by: James Glynn

Senior financial content writer

James has spent almost 20 years writing news articles, guides and features, with a strong focus on the legal and financial services sectors.

Published: 6 January 2026

The information in this post was correct at the time of publishing. Please check when it was written, as information can go out of date over time.

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Written by: James Glynn

Senior financial content writer

Published: 6 January 2026