Are you eligible for a £25 cold weather payment?

Almost 1.5 million cold weather payments have been made by the government so far this winter to households in parts of England and Wales.

The £25 payments are designed to help low-income and vulnerable households pay for energy bills when temperatures drop below freezing.

The payment is separate to the Winter Fuel Payment. If you’re claiming Pension Credit, you’ll be eligible for a cold weather payment - but whether you receive one depends on the temperature where you live.

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The cold snap wreaked havoc in the UK at the start of this year, with airports closing their runways due to heavy snow, warnings of icy roads and travel disruption, and flood alerts. Some postcodes qualified for a cold weather payment back then, and there have been more triggers in the last few weeks as temperatures dipped below freezing again.

We explain how cold weather payments work, who's eligible and how the money is paid.

Who is eligible for a cold weather payment?

Cold weather payments are a government benefit. The money is intended to help with gas and electricity bills during times of extremely cold weather.

About 4.1 million people are eligible for them. So far, 1.4 million payments have been made between 1 November, 2024 and 31 January, 2025, according to the latest official data. The scheme runs until 31 March. The majority were made to people living in England, with just 8,000 of them paid to households in Wales.

There have been 33 "cold weather triggers" so far this winter, affecting hundreds of postcodes. Three of them were in November, while 30 happened this month. The weather station in Shap, Cumbria, has had three triggers - more than any other station - meaning eligible residents living near there will receive three payments.

To qualify for the cold weather payment, you must be getting one of these benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income support
• Income-based jobseekers' allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

There are extra criteria that you must meet depending on which benefits you get. For example if you’re receiving Universal Credit, you and your partner must not be employed or self-employed, and you must either have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, or have a child under five living with you.

If you get Pension Credit, you’ll usually get cold weather payments. More than a quarter of people eligible for cold weather payments receive Pension Credit (almost 1.2 million people).

How to check if a cold weather payment is due

If you live in England or Wales, have a look at the online postcode checker to see which areas are currently eligible for cold weather payments.

If you live in Northern Ireland, check on NIDirect to see if your postcode is in an area due to receive a £25 payment.

The system is different in Scotland; those on low incomes and benefits may instead receive the winter heating payment, worth £58.75, which is a single payment that's not based on weather conditions.

How much is the cold weather payment?

Each cold weather payment is paid for a seven-day period and is worth £25. It’s possible you may receive several during a particularly cold winter.

You'll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven days in a row.

The current scheme covers the period between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Some areas have already triggered more than one cold weather payment this winter.

How do I claim a cold weather payment?

The payments are automatic, so if you are eligible you do not need to apply.

You’ll get the payment within 14 working days into the bank or building society account that you receive your benefit payments.

I think I should have got a cold weather payment, but I haven't received anything

If payments have been triggered in your area (you can use the postcode checker on gov.uk) and you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, but you haven’t received a payment yet, contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.

I don't qualify for cold weather payments. What other energy bills help is available?

First, check that you are claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to. Millions of pounds of government money goes unclaimed every year.

For example, if you successfully apply for Pension Credit, you’ll be eligible for cold weather payments as well as other benefits like Winter Fuel Payment and help with NHS costs.

If you’re struggling with your energy bills, check if your energy supplier offers support. For example, it may offer grants, a reduction in your bill, or more time to pay.

Full list of postcodes where cold weather payments have been triggered in 2024/25

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared the full list of postcodes where there have been triggers for a cold weather payment this winter.

The vast majority of payments (1.2 million) have all been made in the week ending 17 January, which saw 21 triggers.

Sunday 17 November:

Eskdalemuir: DG14, TD9,

Shap: CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23

Monday 18 November:

Redesdale: CA9, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49

Thursday 2 January:

Eskdalemuir: DG14, TD9

Resdale: CA9, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49

Shap: CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23

Saturday 4 January:

Bainbridge: BD23, BD24, DL8, DL11, DL12, DL13

Bingley: BB4, BB8, BB9, BB10, BB11, BB12, BB18, BD1, BD2, BD3, BD4, BD5, BD6, BD7, BD8, BD9, BD10, BD11, BD12, BD13, BD14, BD15, BD16, BD17, BD18, BD19, BD20, BD21, BD22, HD3, HD7, HD8, HD9, HX1, HX2, HX3, HX4, HX5, HX6, HX7, LS21, LS29, OL13, OL14, S36

Thursday 9 January:

Albemarle: DH1, DH6, DH7, DH8, DH9, DL4, DL5, DL14, DL15, DL16, DL17, NE18, NE20, NE44, NE45, NE46, TS21, TS28, TS29

Leek Thorncliffe: DE4, DE6, DE45, S32, S33, SK13, SK17, SK22, SK23, ST8, ST9, ST10, ST11, ST13

Friday 10 January:

Charterhall: NE71, TD5, TD12, TD15

Lake Vyrnwy: LL20, LL21, LL23, SY10, SY15, SY16, SY17, SY19, SY21, SY22

Saturday 11 January:

Carlisle: CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4, CA5, CA6, CA7, CA8, DG16

Keele: CW1, CW2, CW3, CW5, CW12, SK10, SK11, ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7, ST12, ST14, ST15, ST16, ST17, ST18, ST19, ST20, ST21

Leeming: DL1, DL2, DL3, DL6, DL7, DL9, DL10, TS9, TS15, TS16, YO7

Llysdinam: LD1, LD2, LD4, LD5, LD6, LD7, LD8, SA19, SA20, SY7, SY9, SY18

Rostherne: 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

Sunday 12 January:

Rochdale: 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

Shawbury: SY1, SY2, SY3, SY4, SY5, SY6, SY11, SY12, SY13, TF1, TF2, TF3, TF4, TF5, TF6, TF7, TF8, TF9, TF10, TF11, TF12, TF13

Stonyhurst: BB1, BB2, BB3, BB5, BB6, BB7, FY8, LA2, LA6, LA7, PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PR5, PR6, PR25, PR26

Monday 13 January:

Benson: HP5, HP6, HP7, HP8, HP9, HP10, HP11, HP12, HP13, HP14, HP15, HP16, HP17, HP18, HP19, HP20, HP21, HP22, HP23, HP27, OX9, OX10, OX33, OX39, OX44, OX49, RG9, SL7, SL8, SL9

Bramham: HG1, HG2, HG3, HG4, HG5, LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, LS5, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, LS10, LS11, LS12, LS13, LS14, LS15, LS16, LS17, LS18, LS19, LS20, LS22, LS23, LS24, LS25, LS26, LS27, LS28, YO1, YO8, YO10, YO19, YO23, YO24, YO26, YO30, YO31, YO32, YO41, YO42, YO43, YO51, YO60, YO61

Coleshill: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31, B32, B33, B34, B35, B36, B37, B38, B40, B42, B43, B44, B45, B46, B47, B48, B49, B50, B60, B61, B62, B63, B64, B65, B66, B67, B68, B69, B70, B71, B72, B73, B74, B75, B76, B77, B78, B79, B80, B90, B91, B92, B93, B94, B95, B96, B97, B98, CV1, CV2, CV3, CV4, CV5, CV6, CV7, CV8, CV9, CV10, CV11, CV12, CV21, CV22, CV23, CV31, CV32, CV33, CV34, CV35, CV37, CV47, DY1, DY2, DY3, DY4, DY5, DY6, DY7, DY8, DY9, DY10, DY11, DY12, DY13, DY14, LE10, WS1, WS2, WS3, WS4, WS5, WS6, WS7, WS8, WS9, WS10, WS11, WS12, WS13, WS14, WS15, WV1, WV2, WV3, WV4, WV5, WV6, WV7, WV8, WV9, WV10, WV11, WV12, WV13, WV14, WV15, WV16

Little Rissington: CV36, GL54, GL55, GL56, OX7, OX15, OX16, OX17, WR12

Marham: CB6, CB7, IP24, IP25, IP26, IP27, IP28, PE12, PE13, PE14, PE30, PE31, PE32, PE33, PE34, PE35, PE36, PE37, PE38

Stowe: MK18, NN1, NN2, NN3, NN4, NN5, NN6, NN7, NN11, NN12, NN13

Wittering: LE15, NN14, NN15, NN16, NN17, NN18, PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7, PE8, PE9, PE15, PE16, PE17, PE26, PE27, PE28, PE29

Woburn: MK1, MK2, MK3, MK4, MK5, MK6, MK7, MK8, MK9, MK10, MK11, MK12, MK13, MK14, MK15, MK16, MK17, MK19, MK40, MK41, MK42, MK43, MK44, MK45, MK46, NN8, NN9, NN10, NN29, PE19, SG5, SG6, SG7, SG15, SG16, SG17, SG18, SG19

Tuesday 14 January:

Andrewsfield: CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB10, CB11, CB21, CB22, CB23, CB24, CB25, CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4, CM5, CM6, CM7, CM8, CM9, CM11, CM12, CM13, CM14, CM15, CM16, CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20, CM21, CM22, CM23, CM24, CM77, CO9, RM4, SG8, SG9, SG10, SG11

Brize Norton: OX1, OX2, OX3, OX4, OX5, OX6, OX8, OX11, OX12, OX13, OX14, OX18, OX20, OX25, OX26, OX27, OX28, OX29, SN7

Charlwood: BN5, BN6, BN44, GU5, GU6, ME6, ME14, ME15, ME16, ME17, ME18, ME19, ME20, RH1, RH2, RH3, RH4, RH5, RH6, RH7, RH8, RH9, RH10, RH11, RH12, RH13, RH14, RH15, RH16, RH17, RH18, RH19, RH20, TN1, TN2, TN3, TN4, TN5, TN6, TN7, TN8, TN9, TN10, TN11, TN12, TN13, TN14, TN15, TN16, TN17, TN18, TN19, TN20, TN22, TN27

Tibenham Airfield: NR1, NR2, NR3, NR4, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8, NR9, NR10, NR11, NR12, NR13, NR14, NR15, NR16, NR17, NR18, NR19, NR20, NR21, NR22, NR23, NR24, NR25, NR26, NR27, NR28, NR29, NR30, NR31, NR32, NR33, NR34, NR35

Thursday 16 January:

Shap: CA10, CA11, CA12, CA16, CA17, LA8, LA9, LA10, LA21, LA22, LA23