The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced today that nearly a million households in England and Wales will receive Cold Weather Payments to help cover the additional heating costs incurred during last week's cold snap. The payments, triggered in over 500 postcode areas after seven consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures, will see ￡25 given to around 950,000 qualifying households currently receiving relevant benefits.
These payments were activated over the weekend and into Monday, as the country experienced plummeting temperatures. Areas affected include Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and further south into the West Midlands, Oxfordshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
So far this winter, a total of 1,236,000 Cold Weather Payments have been triggered, with some regions receiving two ￡25 payments following cold snaps in November and January. The scheme has cost taxpayers approximately ￡31 million this winter.
Cold Weather Payments are made to individuals in England and Wales who receive a range of benefits. A similar scheme operates in Northern Ireland, while in Scotland, support for heating bills is provided every winter, regardless of specific cold weather periods.
It is estimated that 3.9 million people are eligible for Cold Weather Payments under the DWP scheme, with 1.2 million of these being Pension Credit recipients.
In total the new payments cover 517 postcode areas. You can see if your postcode has been affected using our interactive map.
11 January
Carlisle weather station - payments to 10,000 households in 9 postcode areas:
CA1 - Carlisle, Cumbria
CA2 - Carlisle, Cumbria
CA3 - Carlisle, Cumbria
CA4 - Wetheral, Cumbria
CA5 - Orton, Cumbria
CA6 - Kirklinton, Cumbria
CA7 - Waverton, Cumbria
CA8 - Brampton, Cumbria
DG16 - Gretna border (parts in England)
Keele weather station (49,000 households)
CW1 - Crewe, Cheshire East
CW2 - Crewe, Cheshire East
CW3 - Bridgemere, Cheshire East
CW5 - Nantwich, Cheshire East
CW12 - Congleton, Cheshire East
ST1 - Stoke-on-Trent
ST2 - Stoke-on-Trent
ST3 - Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 - Stoke-on-Trent
ST5 - Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
ST6 - Stoke-on-Trent
ST7 - Kidsgrove, Staffordshire
ST12 - Barlaston, Staffordshire
ST14 - Uttoxeter, Staffordshire
ST15 - Stone, Staffordshire
ST16 - Stafford, Staffordshire
ST17 - Stafford, Staffordshire
ST18 - Hopton, Staffordshire
ST19 - Penkridge, Staffordshire
ST20 - Gnosall, Staffordshire
ST21 - Eccleshall, Staffordshire
SK10 - Macclesfield, Cheshire East
SK11 - Macclesfield, Cheshire East
Leeming weather station (14,000 households)
DL1 - Darlington
DL2 - Halnaby Ave, Darlington
DL3 - Darlington
DL6 - Winton, North Yorkshire
DL7 - Yafforth, North Yorkshire
DL9 - Colburn, North Yorkshire
DL10 - Skeeby, North Yorkshire
TS9 - Great and Little Broughton, North Yorkshire
TS15 - Kirklevington, Stockton-on-Tees
TS16 - Egglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees
YO7 - Sowerby, North Yorkshire
Llysdinam weather station (4,000 households)
LD1 - Llandrindod Wells, Powys
LD2 - Duhonw, Powys
LD4 - Llangamarch, Powys
LD5 - Treflys, Powys
LD6 - Rhayader, Powys
LD7 - Knighton, Powys
LD8 - Presteigne, Powys
SA19 - Talley, Carmarthenshire
SA20 - Llandovery, Carmarthenshire
SY7 - Hopesay, Shropshire
SY9 - Lydham, Shropshire
SY18 - Llanidloes, Powys
Rostherne weather station (217,000 households)
CW4 - Holmes Chapel, Cheshire East
CW6 - Tarporley, Cheshire West and Chester
CW7 - Winsford, Cheshire West and Chester
CW8 - Weaverham, Cheshire West and Chester
CW9 - Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester
CW10 - Middlewich, Cheshire East
CW11 - Sandbach, Cheshire East
M1 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M2 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M3 - Salford
M4 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M5 - Salford
M6 - Salford
M7 - Salford
M8 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M9 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M11 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M12 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M13 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M14 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M15 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M16 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M17 - Urmston, Trafford
M18 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M19 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M20 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M21 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M22 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M23 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M25 - Bury
M27 - Salford
M28 - Walkden, Salford
M29 - Pemberton, Wigan
M30 - Salford
M31 - Partington, Trafford
M32 - Urmston, Trafford
M33 - Trafford
M34 - Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside
M35 - Oldham
M38 - Walkden, Salford
M40 - Manchester, Greater Manchester
M41 - Urmston, Trafford
M43 - Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside
M44 - Salford
M45 - Bury
M46 - Pemberton, Wigan
M50 - Salford Quays, Salford
M90 - Ringway, Greater Manchester
PR7 - Chorley, Lancashire
SK1 - Stockport
SK2 - Stockport
SK3 - Stockport
SK4 - Stockport
SK5 - Stockport
SK6 - Stockport
SK7 - Cheadle, Stockport
SK8 - Stockport
SK9 - Macclesfield, Cheshire East
SK12 - Poynton, Cheshire East
SK14 - Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside
SK16 - Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside
WA1 - Birchwood, Warrington
WA2 - Birchwood, Warrington
WA3 - Croft, Warrington
WA4 - Appleton, Warrington
WA5 - Great Sankey, Warrington
WA6 - Frodsham, Cheshire West and Chester
WA7 - Runcorn, Halton
WA8 - Runcorn, Halton
WA9 - St Helens
WA10 - St Helens
WA11 - St Helens
WA12 - St Helens
WA13 - Lymm, Warrington
WA14 - Trafford
WA15 - Trafford
WA16 - Knutsford, Cheshire East
WN1 - Pemberton, Wigan
WN2 - Pemberton, Wigan
WN3 - Pemberton, Wigan
WN4 - Pemberton, Wigan
WN5 - Pemberton, Wigan
WN6 - Pemberton, Wigan
WN7 - Leigh, Wigan
WN8 - Ormskirk, Lancashire
12 January
Rochdale weather station (83,000 households)
BL0 - Ramsbottom, Bury
BL1 - Bolton
BL2 - Bolton
BL3 - Bolton
BL4 - Bolton
BL5 - Westhoughton, Bolton
BL6 - Horwich, Bolton
BL7 - Bolton
BL8 - Bury
BL9 - Bury
M24 - Middleton, Rochdale
M26 - Bury
OL1 - Oldham
OL2 - Shaw, Oldham
OL3 - Saddleworth, Oldham
OL4 - Oldham
OL5 - Mossley, Tameside
OL6 - Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside
OL7 - Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside
OL8 - Oldham
OL9 - Oldham
OL10 - Heywood, Rochdale
OL11 - Rochdale
OL12 - Rochdale
OL15 - Rochdale
OL16 - Rochdale
SK15 - Tameside
Stonyhurst weather station (27,000 households)
FY8 - Lytham Saint Annes, Lancashire
PR1 - Preston, Lancashire
PR2 - Preston, Lancashire
PR3 - Claughton, Lancashire
PR4 - Freckleton, Lancashire
PR5 - Bamber Bridge, Lancashire
PR25 - Leyland, Lancashire
PR26 - Leyland, Lancashire
BB1 - Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen
BB2 - Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen
BB3 - Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen
BB5 - Accrington, Lancashire
BB6 - Accrington, Lancashire
BB7 - Clitheroe, Lancashire
LA2 - Caton, Lancashire
LA6 - Whittingham, Lancashire
LA7 - Milnthorpe, Cumbria
PR6 - Chorley, Lancashire
Shawbury weather station (27,000 households)
SY1 - Shrewsbury, Shropshire
SY2 - Shrewsbury, Shropshire
SY3 - Shrewsbury, Shropshire
SY4 - Myddle, Shropshire
SY5 - Longden, Shropshire
SY6 - Church Stretton, Shropshire
SY11 - Oswestry, Shropshire
SY12 - Ellesmere, Shropshire
SY13 - Whitchurch Rural, Shropshire
TF1 - Wellington, Telford and Wrekin
TF2 - St Georges and Priorslee, Telford and Wrekin
TF3 - Hollinswood, Telford and Wrekin
TF4 - Telford, Telford and Wrekin
TF5 - Wellington, Telford and Wrekin
TF6 - Rodington, Telford and Wrekin
TF7 - Madeley, Telford and Wrekin
TF8 - The Gorge, Telford and Wrekin
TF9 - Sutton upon Tern, Shropshire
TF10 - Newport, Telford and Wrekin
TF11 - Shifnal, Shropshire
TF12 - Broseley, Shropshire
TF13 - Much Wenlock, Shropshire
13 January
Benson weather station (19,000 households)
HP5 - Chesham, Buckinghamshire
HP6 - Amersham, Buckinghamshire
HP7 - Amersham, Buckinghamshire
HP8 - Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
HP9 - Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
HP10 - Chepping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
HP11 - High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
HP12 - High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
HP13 - High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
HP14 - Bledlow-cum-Saunderton, Buckinghamshire
HP15 - Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
HP16 - Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
HP17 - Dinton, Buckinghamshire
HP18 - Ashendon, Buckinghamshire
HP19 - Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
HP20 - Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
HP21 - Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
HP22 - Weston Turville, Buckinghamshire
HP23 - Tring, Hertfordshire
HP27 - Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire
OX9 - Thame, Oxfordshire
OX10 - Wallingford, Oxfordshire
OX33 - Holton, Oxfordshire
OX39 - Chinnor, Oxfordshire
OX44 - Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire
OX49 - Watlington, Oxfordshire
RG9 - Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire
SL7 - Marlow, Buckinghamshire
SL8 - Wooburn, Buckinghamshire
SL9 - Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire
Bramham weather station (71,000 households)
HG1 - Harrogate, North Yorkshire
HG2 - Harrogate, North Yorkshire
HG3 - Clint, North Yorkshire
HG4 - North Stainley, North Yorkshire
HG5 - Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
LS1 - Leeds
LS2 - Leeds
LS3 - Leeds
LS4 - Leeds
LS5 - Leeds
LS6 - Leeds
LS7 - Leeds
LS8 - Leeds
LS9 - Leeds
LS10 - Leeds
LS11 - Leeds
LS12 - Leeds
LS13 - Leeds
LS14 - Leeds
LS15 - Leeds
LS16 - Leeds
LS17 - Harewood, Leeds
LS18 - Leeds
LS19 - Guiseley, Leeds
LS20 - Guiseley, Leeds
LS22 - Wetherby, Leeds
LS23 - Boston Spa, Leeds
LS24 - Grimston, North Yorkshire
LS25 - Micklefield, Leeds
LS26 - Rothwell, Leeds
LS27 - Gildersome, Leeds
LS28 - Leeds
YO1 - York
YO8 - Selby, North Yorkshire
YO10 - Heslington, York
YO19 - Wheldrake, York
YO23 - Copmanthorpe, York
YO24 - York
YO26 - Upper Poppleton, York
YO30 - Rawcliffe, York
YO31 - York
YO32 - Earswick, York
YO41 - Catton, East Riding of Yorkshire
YO42 - Barmby Moor, East Riding of Yorkshire
YO43 - Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire
YO51 - Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire
YO60 - Thornton-le-Clay, North Yorkshire
YO61 - Easingwold, North Yorkshire
Coleshill weather station (313,000 households)
B1 - Birmingham
B2 - Birmingham
B3 - Birmingham
B4 - Birmingham
B5 - Birmingham
B6 - Birmingham
B7 - Birmingham
B8 - Birmingham
B9 - Birmingham
B10 - Birmingham
B11 - Birmingham
B12 - Birmingham
B13 - Birmingham
B14 - Birmingham
B15 - Birmingham
B16 - Birmingham
B17 - Birmingham
B18 - Birmingham
B19 - Birmingham
B20 - Birmingham
B21 - Birmingham
B23 - Birmingham
B24 - Birmingham
B25 - Birmingham
B26 - Birmingham
B27 - Birmingham
B28 - Birmingham
B29 - Birmingham
B30 - Birmingham
B31 - Birmingham
B32 - Birmingham
B33 - Birmingham
B34 - Birmingham
B35 - Birmingham
B36 - Castle Bromwich, Solihull
B37 - Chelmsley Wood, Solihull
B38 - Tees Grove, Birmingham
B40 - Bickenhill, Solihull
B42 - Birmingham
B43 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B44 - Birmingham
B45 - Birmingham
B46 - Coleshill, Warwickshire
B47 - Wythall, Worcestershire
B48 - Alvechurch, Worcestershire
B49 - Alcester, Warwickshire
B50 - Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
B60 - Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
B61 - Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
B62 - Hurst Green, Dudley
B63 - Hurst Green, Dudley
B64 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B65 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B66 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B67 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B68 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B69 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B70 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B71 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
B72 - Birmingham
B73 - Birmingham
B74 - Birmingham
B75 - Birmingham
B76 - Birmingham
B77 - Tamworth, Staffordshire
B78 - Tamworth, Staffordshire
B79 - Wigginton, Staffordshire
B80 - Studley, Warwickshire
B90 - Solihull
B91 - Solihull
B92 - Solihull
B93 - Dorridge, Solihull
B94 - Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire
B95 - Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire
B96 - Redditch, Worcestershire
B97 - Redditch, Worcestershire
B98 - Redditch, Worcestershire
CV1 - Coventry
CV2 - Coventry
CV3 - Coventry
CV4 - Coventry
CV5 - Coventry
CV6 - Coventry
CV7 - Hawkes End, Coventry
CV8 - Kenilworth, Warwickshire
CV9 - Atherstone, Warwickshire
CV10 - Nuneaton, Warwickshire
CV11 - Nuneaton, Warwickshire
CV12 - Bedworth, Warwickshire
CV21 - Rugby, Warwickshire
CV22 - Rugby, Warwickshire
CV23 - Dunchurch, Warwickshire
CV31 - Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
CV32 - Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
CV33 - Radford Semele, Warwickshire
CV34 - Warwick, Warwickshire
CV35 - Wasperton, Warwickshire
CV37 - Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire
CV47 - Ladbroke, Warwickshire
DY1 - Dudley
DY2 - Dudley
DY3 - Dudley
DY4 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
DY5 - Dudley
DY6 - Dudley
DY7 - Kinver, Staffordshire
DY8 - Dudley
DY9 - Dudley
DY10 - Kidderminster, Worcestershire
DY11 - Kidderminster, Worcestershire
DY12 - Upper Arley, Worcestershire
DY13 - Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire
DY14 - Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire
LE10 - Hinckley, Leicestershire
WS1 - Walsall
WS2 - Walsall
WS3 - Willenhall, Walsall
WS4 - Walsall
WS5 - Walsall
WS6 - Great Wyrley, Staffordshire
WS7 - Burntwood, Staffordshire
WS8 - Brownhills, Walsall
WS9 - Aldridge, Walsall
WS10 - West Bromwich, Sandwell
WS11 - Cannock, Staffordshire
WS12 - Cannock, Staffordshire
WS13 - Lichfield, Staffordshire
WS14 - Swinfen and Packington, Staffordshire
WS15 - Brereton, Staffordshire
WV1 - Wolverhampton
WV2 - Wolverhampton
WV3 - Wolverhampton
WV4 - Wolverhampton
WV5 - Wombourne, Staffordshire
WV6 - Wolverhampton
WV7 - Albrighton, Shropshire
WV8 - Bilbrook, Staffordshire
WV9 - Wolverhampton
WV10 - Wednesfield, Wolverhampton
WV11 - Wednesfield, Wolverhampton
WV12 - Willenhall, Walsall
WV13 - Willenhall, Walsall
WV14 - Wednesfield, Wolverhampton
WV15 - Bridgnorth, Shropshire
WV16 - Chetton, Shropshire
Little Rissington weather station (7000 households)
CV36 - Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire
GL54 - Naunton, Gloucestershire
GL55 - Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
GL56 - Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
OX7 - Chadlington, Oxfordshire
OX15 - Tadmarton, Oxfordshire
OX16 - Banbury, Oxfordshire
OX17 - Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire
WR12 - Broadway, Worcestershire
Marham weather station (25,000 households)
CB6 - Downham, Cambridgeshire
CB7 - Soham, Cambridgeshire
IP24 - Thetford, Norfolk
IP25 - Ovington, Norfolk
IP26 - Methwold, Norfolk
IP27 - Brandon, Suffolk
IP28 - Tuddenham, Suffolk
PE12 - Fleet, Lincolnshire
PE13 - Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
PE14 - Emneth, Norfolk
PE30 - King's Lynn, Norfolk
PE31 - Snettisham, Norfolk
PE32 - West Acre, Norfolk
PE33 - Shouldham, Norfolk
PE34 - Wiggenhall St Germans, Norfolk
PE35 - Sandringham, Norfolk
PE36 - Old Hunstanton, Norfolk
PE37 - Swaffham, Norfolk
PE38 - Denver, Norfolk
Wittering weather station (25,000 households)
LE15 - Hambleton, Rutland
NN14 - Warkton, Northamptonshire
NN15 - Kettering, Northamptonshire
NN16 - Kettering, Northamptonshire
NN17 - Corby, Northamptonshire
NN18 - Corby, Northamptonshire
PE1 - Peterborough
PE2 - Peterborough
PE3 - Peterborough
PE4 - Peterborough
PE5 - Ailsworth, Peterborough
PE6 - Deeping St James, Lincolnshire
PE7 - Farcet, Cambridgeshire
PE8 - Tansor, Northamptonshire
PE9 - Stamford, Lincolnshire
PE15 - March, Cambridgeshire
PE16 - Chatteris, Cambridgeshire
PE26 - Ramsey, Cambridgeshire
PE27 - St Ives, Cambridgeshire
PE28 - The Stukeleys, Cambridgeshire
PE29 - Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Woburn weather station (45,000 households)
MK1 - Bletchley, Milton Keynes
MK2 - Bletchley, Milton Keynes
MK3 - Bletchley, Milton Keynes
MK4 - Shenley Brook End, Milton Keynes
MK5 - Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes
MK6 - Woughton On The Green, Milton Keynes
MK7 - Walton, Milton Keynes
MK8 - Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes
MK9 - Milton Keynes
MK10 - Milton Keynes
MK11 - Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes
MK12 - Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes
MK13 - Bradwell, Milton Keynes
MK14 - Stantonbury, Milton Keynes
MK15 - Willen, Milton Keynes
MK16 - Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes
MK17 - Bow Brickhill, Milton Keynes
MK19 - Cosgrove, Northamptonshire
MK40 - Bedford, Bedford Borough
MK41 - Bedford, Bedford Borough
MK42 - Kempston, Bedford Borough
MK43 - Kempston Rural, Bedford Borough
MK44 - Wilden, Bedford Borough
MK45 - Maulden, Central Bedfordshire
MK46 - Clifton Reynes, Milton Keynes
NN8 - Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
NN9 - Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire
NN10 - Rushden, Northamptonshire
NN29 - Wollaston, Northamptonshire
PE19 - St Neots, Cambridgeshire
SG5 - Ickleford, Hertfordshire
SG6 - Hitchin, Hertfordshire
SG7 - Bygrave, Hertfordshire
SG15 - Arlesey, Central Bedfordshire
SG16 - Henlow, Central Bedfordshire
SG17 - Shefford, Central Bedfordshire
SG18 - Biggleswade, Central Bedfordshire
SG19 - Everton, Central Bedfordshire
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Last year, a total of 364,000 payments were made across England and Wales, costing ￡9.1 million in total. In certain parts of Cumbria, the Cold Weather Payments were activated three times during separate periods of freezing weather last winter, resulting in eligible recipients receiving a total of ￡75.
The DWP has stated that those claiming Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest may be eligible for the Cold Weather Payment. However, not everyone receiving these benefits will automatically receive a Cold Weather Payment.
A number of factors will determine whether a payment will be made and full details of those eligible can be found here: https://www.govU.K./cold-weather-payment/eligibility .