Over 1.5 million households across 794 postcodes have received a £25 Cold Weather Payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this winter. These payments total more than £35 million and provide essential support during freezing conditions.
How Cold Weather Payments Work
Cold Weather Payments activate automatically when temperatures drop to 0°C or below for seven consecutive days, as recorded by local weather stations. The DWP deposits £25 directly into eligible bank accounts to help cover heating costs during harsh cold snaps.
Eligibility for Payments
Households receiving Pension Credit qualify automatically. Those on Universal Credit, Income Support, or similar benefits may also be eligible if they satisfy additional criteria. Low-income pensioners can apply for Pension Credit, which averages £86 per week and grants access to further assistance, including housing cost support and free NHS dental treatment.
Payouts This Winter
The government confirms that payments have reached 1.5 million households in 794 postcodes, triggered at least once each by local weather monitoring stations. This substantial aid underscores efforts to protect vulnerable residents from rising energy expenses in winter.
Official Reactions
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden stated: “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.”
Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, added: “Cold Weather Payments can be a lifeline during cold snaps. With more than half of older people on low incomes across England and Wales regularly sharing that they are worried about meeting the cost of their heating bill, it is crucial that vital support like this reaches those who need it most. We welcome this £35 million investment from the UK Government to support people of all ages struggling to heat their homes and look forward to continuing to work with the Government to ensure older people on low incomes receive the financial support they need.”
