The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has activated Cold Weather Payments for hundreds of thousands of households across England and Wales as a severe cold snap continues. A total of 246 new postcode areas have been triggered for the £25 support payment today, 7 January 2026.
Who Qualifies for the Payment?
The payments are designed to help vulnerable residents with heating costs when temperatures plummet. Eligibility is linked to receiving certain benefits, including Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, and Support for Mortgage Interest.
It is estimated that 3.9 million people are eligible for the payments under the DWP scheme nationwide, with 1.2 million of those receiving Pension Credit. However, not everyone on these benefits will get a payment automatically; specific criteria related to location and temperature must be met.
Major Areas Affected by Latest Trigger
The latest activation means an estimated 532,000 households will receive the £25 payment. A significant portion of these are in the North West, with around 336,000 eligible homes in Greater Manchester alone. The total cost to the taxpayer for today's triggered payments is approximately £13.3 million.
Other major regions included in the new trigger are parts of Cumbria, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, and areas across Wales and Northern Ireland. The payments are triggered when a local weather station records an average temperature of 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.
How the System Works and What to Expect
The 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'. Crucially, you do not need to apply for the payment; it is issued automatically if you qualify.
So far this winter, payments have been triggered for 697 postcode districts. In 18 of those areas, residents are receiving their second £25 payment because the cold spell has lasted for two qualifying weeks.
It is important to note that the scheme operates differently across the UK. While England and Wales use the temperature-triggered system, a separate but similar scheme runs in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, support is provided through an annual Winter Heating Payment, which is not linked to specific cold spells.
The trigger comes as the Met Office has issued a series of winter weather warnings for the week, with forecasters predicting sustained sub-zero temperatures for many parts of the country heading into the New Year.
