Are you eligible for a £25 cold weather payment?
Millions of people are eligible for cold weather payments from the Department for Work and Pensions. With the scheme finishing for this winter on 31 March, we explain who qualifies and how to check if a payment is due
Jessica Sheldon
Almost 1.5 million cold weather payments have been made by the government to households in parts of England and Wales since November 2024.
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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Some postcodes qualified for a payment back in January, when the cold snap wreaked havoc at the start of this year.
However, the government did not make any cold weather payments in February, according to official figures, as temperatures did not dip below freezing for long enough.
The scheme runs until the end of this month. While spring definitely feels like it’s in the air as we enter March and enjoy some sunny weather, there’s a chance some parts of the country could experience another cold spell.
For example, according to the Met Office’s long range weather forecast for Cumbria, we could see “a good deal of dry weather [which leads] to a downturn in temperatures with a low chance of a colder spell and wintry hazards” in mid-March. It also says: “Some colder spells remain possible during late March.”
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 28 February, 2025, according to the latest data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). 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 in January. The weather station in Shap, Cumbria, has had three triggers – more than any other station – meaning eligible residents living near there will have received 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?”
Many households are feeling the pinch with their energy bills. The Ofgem energy price cap, which dictates what customers on variable tariffs pay, rose 1% on New Year’s Day and will jump by a bigger-than-expected 6% on April Fool’s Day.
If you’re struggling, 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.
We cover whether to change from a variable rate in our guide: “Should you switch to a fixed energy tariff?”
Full list of postcodes where cold weather payments have been triggered in 2024/25
The 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) were 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
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Ruth is an award-winning financial journalist with more than 15 years' experience of working on national newspapers, websites and specialist magazines.
She is passionate about helping people feel more confident about their finances. She was previously editor of Times Money Mentor, and prior to that was deputy Money editor at The Sunday Times.
A multi-award winning journalist, Ruth started her career on a pensions magazine at the FT Group, and has also worked at Money Observer and Money Advice Service.
Outside of work, she is a mum to two young children, while also serving as a magistrate and an NHS volunteer.
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