The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has activated Cold Weather Payments for hundreds of thousands of households across England and Wales today, as a severe winter snap takes hold. A total of 246 new postcode areas have been triggered, making an estimated 532,000 homes eligible for a £25 payment to help with heating costs.
Which Areas Are Affected?
The latest round of payments, triggered on 7 January 2026, covers a wide geographical area. Major regions include Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland. The activation comes as the Met Office issued a series of winter weather warnings for the week.
In Greater Manchester alone, around 336,000 households are set to benefit from the support. The total cost to the taxpayer for today's triggered payments is estimated at £13.3 million. So far this winter, payments have been activated for 697 postcode districts, with 18 areas receiving two payments due to a prolonged cold spell.
How the Payment Scheme Works
Cold Weather Payments are a targeted support measure for people receiving certain benefits in England and Wales. A payment of £25 is automatically issued when an area's average temperature is forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
The DWP states that those claiming the following benefits may be eligible:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
It is important to note that not everyone receiving these benefits will qualify automatically. Eligibility depends on specific circumstances, and full details are available on GOV.UK. An estimated 3.9 million people are eligible under the scheme, with 1.2 million of those receiving Pension Credit.
What You Need to Know
Payments are made directly into recipients' bank accounts within 14 working days. The payment reference will include the customer's National Insurance number followed by 'DWP CWP'. You do not need to apply for the payment; it is issued automatically if you meet the criteria.
The support schemes differ across the UK. While England and Wales use the temperature-triggered Cold Weather Payment system, a separate but similar scheme operates in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, a different Winter Heating Payment is made annually to eligible individuals, regardless of specific cold spells.
With forecasters predicting continued sub-zero temperatures for many areas, further payments may be triggered in the coming days. Households are advised to check the official postcode list or interactive maps provided by government services to confirm their eligibility.
