DWP pays out £35m in Cold Weather Payments – the best way to verify your space | EUROtoday

Nearly 1.5 million households have acquired a one-off cost from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) following the freezing chilly temperatures skilled throughout the UK skilled within the first weeks of 2026.

Over £35 million has been spent on the scheme this yr, the division has confirmed, as tens of millions obtain their chilly climate cost of £25 or £50.

Areas throughout the nation have been battered by robust winds, snow and temperatures as little as -12C in January, with tough circumstances persevering with into February.

To assist assist individuals in the course of the chilly snap, the DWP ran its chilly climate cost scheme for qualifying households. The is a one-off cost of £25 that’s triggered for each seven-day interval the place the temperature of an space is at or beneath zero levels.

Here are the affected postcode areas which have seen a cost triggered thus far:

In Northern Ireland, postcodes the place cost has been triggered are: BT24, BT25, BT26, BT30, BT31, BT32, BT33, and BT34.

Work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, mentioned: “This support is a lifeline for vulnerable households when temperatures plummet.

“Combined with our wider cost of living support – including a higher National Living Wage, £150 off energy bills, and a £300 Winter Fuel Payment for over nine million pensioners – these measures are making a real difference to households across the country.”

When will I obtain my chilly climate cost?

Those eligible will get the cost routinely. They ought to arrive in the identical checking account they obtain profit funds, inside 14 working days of the chilly interval, with the cost reference “DWP CWP”.

This ought to now have handed for all funds, however those that imagine they’re eligible however haven’t acquired the cost ought to contact the DWP.

Am I eligible for a chilly climate cost?

Those eligible for the chilly climate cost should obtain no less than one of many following:

Those who should not receiving pension credit score will even usually must have a well being situation, caring tasks, or younger or disabled youngsters.

They should additionally stay in an space that has skilled seven days of zero or sub-zero temperatures.

The DWP depends on Met Office tools to measure temperatures throughout all eligible UK postcodes. Those who disagree with the judgement are in a position to enchantment on to the division.

Although the affected areas cowl elements of Scotland, these dwelling within the nation won’t obtain a chilly climate cost. The Scottish authorities has changed the scheme with its annual winter heating funds.

Full record of eligible postcodes

A complete of 17 out of the Met Office’s 71 climate stations triggered the cost in the course of the week ending 9 January, 14 of them for the primary time this winter.

The highest variety of funds (241,000) was triggered by the station at Rostherne in Cheshire, protecting individuals dwelling in a lot of east Cheshire and southern Greater Manchester.

Some 136,000 funds have been triggered by the climate station at Morpeth in Northumberland, protecting many individuals throughout the county in addition to a lot of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and Sunderland.

Below is the total record of over 700 postcodes eligible for the chilly climate cost:

Two funds (£50):

One cost (£25):