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Cold Weather Payment checker: has your area triggered £25?

Payments are triggered weather station by weather station. Put in your postcode to see yours, how many £25 payments it has triggered, and whether you’d get them.

By Tom Calder · Updated 23 September 2026 · From DWP’s own figures

Or use the official DWP checker

2026/27 season: 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. Not started yet. DWP publishes its first figures in early December, then every Wednesday.

The honest bit

It’s automatic. You never apply, and it’s paid into the account your benefit already goes to, so nobody needs your bank details for it. A call, text or email asking you to apply or pay is not from DWP.

The counts here are DWP’s own, published on Wednesdays and covering triggers up to the previous Friday, so a cold spell this week can take more than a week to show. DWP’s checker is the one to confirm with, and if a payment you expected hasn’t arrived within 14 working days, tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus (or add a note to your Universal Credit journal).

How the payment works

You get £25 for each 7-day period when the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. The 2026/27 scheme runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, and a longer or repeated cold spell brings more than one payment. It doesn’t affect your other benefits, and it isn’t the Winter Fuel Payment, which is separate.

“Your area” means a weather station. DWP uses a network of 71 stations across England and Wales, and each of the 2,298 postcode districts in its list is linked to the station the Met Office judges best suits its climate. When a station’s 7-day average is 0°C or below, everyone eligible in its districts gets £25. DWP reviews the links every year and changes any that stop being representative: for 2025/26, WF1–17 and HD1–2 and HD4–6 moved from Sheffield to Bramham, and BD19 from Bingley.

The money should arrive within 14 working days of the cold spell, into the same account as your benefit.

Who qualifies

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you get one of these four, with the conditions GOV.UK sets:

Pension Credit. You’ll usually get them.
Universal Credit, if you and any partner are not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’, and either one of you has limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity) or you have a child under 5 living with you. You’re also eligible if there’s a disabled child amount in your claim, whether or not you work.
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, if you’re in the work-related activity group or the support group. If you’re in neither, you might still get them with a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a disabled child, or a child under 5 living with you.
Support for Mortgage Interest, if you’re treated as getting a qualifying benefit with a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a disabled child, or a child under 5 living with you.

On Universal Credit or income-related ESA, report a new baby or a child under 5 coming to live with you, or the payments won’t come automatically. If you might qualify for Pension Credit, it’s worth checking: it brings Cold Weather Payments with it.

Scotland

There’s no Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. Instead, people on qualifying benefits get the Winter Heating Payment: £62.00 for 2026/27, paid automatically from December and through winter. It doesn’t depend on how cold it gets.

Families of disabled children and young people may also get the Child Winter Heating Payment: £265.50 for 2026/27, paid once a year from October.

Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot →

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland runs its own Cold Weather Payment on the same terms: £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March, paid automatically to people on the same four qualifying benefits, with conditions. Its weather stations aren’t in DWP’s list, so this checker can’t look them up.

nidirect’s postcode checker →

Every weather station, and how often it triggered

Past winters are DWP’s final counts. One trigger is one £25 payment to each eligible person linked to that station.

Station	2025/26	2024/25	2023/24
Aberporth	0	0	0
Albemarle	1	1	2
Almondsbury	0	0	0
Andrewsfield	1	1	0
Bainbridge	1	1	2
Benson	1	1	1
Bingley	1	1	2
Boscombe Down	0	0	0
Bramham	0	1	0
Brize Norton	0	1	0
Capel Curig	0	0	0
Cardinham (Bodmin)	0	0	0
Carlisle	1	1	2
Charlwood	1	1	1
Charterhall	1	1	2
Chivenor	0	0	0
Coleshill	0	1	0
Crosby	0	0	0
Culdrose	0	0	0
Dunkeswell Aerodrome	0	0	0
Eskdalemuir	2	2	2
Exeter Airport	0	0	0
Hawarden Airport	0	0	0
Heathrow	0	0	0
Hereford-Credenhill	0	0	0
Herstmonceux West End	0	0	0
Hurn	1	0	0
Isle of Portland	0	0	0
Keele	1	1	0
Lake Vyrnwy	1	1	0
Langdon Bay	0	0	0
Leconfield	0	0	0
Leek	1	1	2
Leeming	1	1	0
Libanus	1	0	1
Liscombe	0	0	0
Little Rissington	1	1	0
Llysdinam	1	1	1
Loftus	1	0	0
Marham	1	1	1
Mona	0	0	0
Morpeth, Cockle Park	1	0	0
North Wyke	0	0	0
Nottingham Watnall	0	0	0
Odiham	0	0	0
Pembrey Sands	0	0	0
Plymouth	0	0	0
Redesdale	2	2	2
Rhyl	0	0	0
Rochdale	1	1	2
Rostherne	1	1	1
Rothamsted	1	0	0
Scilly St. Marys	0	0	0
Shap	2	3	3
Shawbury	1	1	1
Sheffield	0	0	0
Shoeburyness	0	0	0
St. Athan	0	0	0
St. Bees Head	0	0	0
Stonyhurst	0	1	0
Stowe	1	1	0
Thorney Island	0	0	0
Tibenham	1	1	0
Trawsgoed	0	0	0
Waddington	0	0	0
Walney Island	0	0	0
Wattisham	1	0	1
Westonbirt	0	0	0
Wittering	1	1	0
Woburn	1	1	0
Yeovilton	0	0	0

Stations and postcode links from DWP’s 2025/26 list, published 3 December 2025. Fylingdales, used in 2023/24 but in no later list, triggered twice that winter.

Which postcode districts each station covers

Aberporth: (16): SA35–48, SA64–65
Albemarle: (19): DH1, DH6–9, DL4–5, DL14–17, NE18, NE20, NE44–46, TS21, TS28–29
Almondsbury: (43): BS1–11, BS13–16, BS20–25, BS29–32, BS34–37, BS39–41, BS48–49, GL11–13, NP10, NP16, NP18–20, NP26
Andrewsfield: (42): CB1–5, CB10–11, CB21–25, CM1–9, CM11–24, CM77, CO9, RM4, SG8–11
Bainbridge: (6): BD23–24, DL8, DL11–13
Benson: (30): HP5–23, HP27, OX9–10, OX33, OX39, OX44, OX49, RG9, SL7–9
Bingley: (44): BB4, BB8–12, BB18, BD1–18, BD20–22, HD3, HD7–9, HX1–7, LS21, LS29, OL13–14, S36
Boscombe Down: (15): BA12, RG28, SO20–23, SP1–5, SP7, SP9–11
Bramham: (71): BD19, HD1–2, HD4–6, HG1–5, LS1–20, LS22–28, WF1–17, YO1, YO8, YO10, YO19, YO23–24, YO26, YO30–32, YO41–43, YO51, YO60–61
Brize Norton: (17): OX1–5, OX11–14, OX18, OX20, OX25–29, SN7
Capel Curig: (3): LL24–25, LL41
Cardinham (Bodmin): (21): PL13–18, PL22–35, TR9
Carlisle: (9): CA1–8, DG16
Charlwood: (55): BN5–6, BN44, GU5–6, ME6, ME14–20, RH1–20, TN1–20, TN22, TN27
Charterhall: (4): NE71, TD5, TD12, TD15
Chivenor: (6): EX23, EX31–34, EX39
Coleshill: (145): B1–21, B23–38, B40, B42–50, B60–80, B90–98, CV1–12, CV21–23, CV31–35, CV37, CV47, DY1–14, LE10, WS1–15, WV1–16
Crosby: (66): CH41–49, CH60–66, FY1–7, L1–40, L69, PR8–9
Culdrose: (21): TR1–8, TR10–20, TR26–27
Dunkeswell Aerodrome: (7): DT6–8, EX13–15, TA21
Eskdalemuir: (2): DG14, TD9
Exeter Airport: (22): EX1–12, EX24, TQ1–6, TQ9, TQ12, TQ14
Hawarden Airport: (13): CH1–8, LL11–14, SY14
Heathrow: (278): BR1–4, CR0, CR2–8, E1–18, E20, EN1–5, EN7–11, HA0–9, IG1–11, KT1–24, N1–22, NW1–11, SE1–28, SL0, SL3, SM1–7, SW2–20, TW1–20, UB1–11, W2–14, E1W, EC1A, EC1M, EC1N, EC1R, EC1V, EC1Y, EC2A, EC2M, EC2N, EC2R, EC2V, EC2Y, EC3A, EC3M, EC3N, EC3R, EC3V, EC4A, EC4M, EC4N, EC4R, EC4V, EC4Y, N1C, SW1A, SW1E, SW1H, SW1P, SW1V, SW1W, SW1X, SW1Y, W1B, W1C, W1D, W1F, W1G, W1H, W1J, W1K, W1S, W1T, W1U, W1W, WC1A, WC1B, WC1E, WC1H, WC1N, WC1R, WC1V, WC1X, WC2A, WC2B, WC2E, WC2H, WC2N, WC2R
Hereford-Credenhill: (46): GL1–6, GL10, GL14–20, GL50–53, HR1–9, NP7–8, NP15, NP25, SY8, WR1–11, WR13–15
Herstmonceux West End: (20): BN7–8, BN20–24, BN26–27, TN21, TN31–40
Hurn: (30): BH1–25, BH31, DT1–2, DT11, SP6
Isle of Portland: (3): DT3–5
Keele: (23): CW1–3, CW5, CW12, SK10–11, ST1–7, ST12, ST14–21
Lake Vyrnwy: (10): LL20–21, LL23, SY10, SY15–17, SY19, SY21–22
Langdon Bay: (26): CT1–4, CT7–21, TN23–26, TN28–30
Leconfield: (27): DN14, HU1–20, YO11–12, YO14–16, YO25
Leek: (14): DE4, DE6, DE45, S32–33, SK13, SK17, SK22–23, ST8–11, ST13
Leeming: (11): DL1–3, DL6–7, DL9–10, TS9, TS15–16, YO7
Libanus: (24): CF37–48, CF81–83, LD3, NP4, NP11–13, NP22–24, NP44
Liscombe: (5): EX16, EX35–36, TA22, TA24
Little Rissington: (9): CV36, GL54–56, OX7, OX15–17, WR12
Llysdinam: (12): LD1–2, LD4–8, SA19–20, SY7, SY9, SY18
Loftus: (31): SR7–8, TS1–8, TS10–14, TS17–20, TS22–27, YO13, YO17–18, YO21–22, YO62
Marham: (19): CB6–7, IP24–28, PE12–14, PE30–38
Mona: (38): LL33–34, LL42–49, LL51–78
Morpeth, Cockle Park: (59): DH2–5, NE1–13, NE15–17, NE21–43, NE61–70, SR1–6
North Wyke: (14): EX17–22, EX37–38, PL19–21, TQ10–11, TQ13
Nottingham Watnall: (70): CV13, DE1, DE3, DE5, DE7, DE11–15, DE21–24, DE55–56, DE65, DE72–75, LE1–9, LE11–14, LE16–19, LE65, LE67, NG1–22, NG25, NG31–34, S42, S44–45
Odiham: (69): GU1–4, GU7–12, GU14–35, GU46–47, GU51–52, RG1–2, RG4–8, RG10, RG12, RG14, RG18–27, RG29–31, RG40–42, RG45, SL1–2, SL4–6, SO24
Pembrey Sands: (29): SA1–9, SA14–18, SA31–34, SA61–63, SA66–73
Plymouth: (14): PL1–12, TQ7–8
Redesdale: (5): CA9, NE19, NE47–49
Rhyl: (13): LL15–19, LL22, LL26–32
Rochdale: (27): BL0–9, M24, M26, OL1–12, OL15–16, SK15
Rostherne: (85): CW4, CW6–11, M1–9, M11–23, M25, M27–35, M38, M40–41, M43–46, M50, M90, PR7, SK1–9, SK12, SK14, SK16, WA1–16, WN1–8
Rothamsted: (40): AL1–10, EN6, HP1–4, LU1–7, SG1–4, SG12–14, WD3–7, WD17–19, WD23–25
Scilly St. Marys: (5): TR21–25
Shap: (11): CA10–12, CA16–17, LA8–10, LA21–23
Shawbury: (22): SY1–6, SY11–13, TF1–13
Sheffield: (49): DN1–8, DN11–12, S1–14, S17–18, S20–21, S25–26, S35, S40–41, S43, S60–66, S70–75, S80–81
Shoeburyness: (73): BR5–8, CM0, CT5–6, DA1–18, ME1–5, ME7–13, RM1–3, RM5–20, SS0–9, SS11–17
St. Athan: (24): CF3, CF5, CF10–11, CF14–15, CF23–24, CF31–36, CF61–64, CF71–72, SA10–13
St. Bees Head: (14): CA13–15, CA18–28
Stonyhurst: (18): BB1–3, BB5–7, FY8, LA2, LA6–7, PR1–6, PR25–26
Stowe: (11): MK18, NN1–7, NN11–13
Thorney Island: (70): BN1–3, BN9–18, BN25, BN41–43, BN45, PO1–22, PO30–41, SO14–19, SO30–32, SO40–43, SO45, SO50–53
Tibenham: (35): NR1–35
Trawsgoed: (10): LL35–40, SY20, SY23–25
Waddington: (44): DN9–10, DN15–22, DN31–41, LN1–13, NG23–24, PE10–11, PE20–25
Walney Island: (14): LA1, LA3–5, LA11–20
Wattisham: (45): CB8–9, CO1–8, CO10–16, IP1–23, IP29–33
Westonbirt: (28): BA1–3, BA11, BA13–15, GL7–9, RG17, SN1–6, SN8–16, SN25–26
Wittering: (21): LE15, NN14–18, PE1–9, PE15–16, PE26–29
Woburn: (38): MK1–17, MK19, MK40–46, NN8–10, NN29, PE19, SG5–7, SG15–19
Yeovilton: (38): BA4–10, BA16, BA20–22, BS26–28, DT9–10, SP8, TA1–20, TA23

The last 3 winters

2025/26

34 triggers

at 31 of 71 stations · about 1,447,000 payments

2024/25

33 triggers

at 29 of 71 stations · about 1,402,000 payments

2023/24

31 triggers

at 19 of 72 stations · about 1,182,000 payments

England and Wales. Payments are DWP’s estimates, rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Get an email when payments trigger

One calm email when DWP’s figures show Cold Weather Payments triggering this winter, plus the occasional briefing when the weather turns. No postcode needed.

Common questions

How much is the Cold Weather Payment in 2026/27?

£25 for each 7-day period when the average temperature at your area’s weather station is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below, between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. A long cold spell, or several, brings more than one payment.

How do I know if my area has had a Cold Weather Payment?

Every postcode district is linked to one weather station, and payments trigger station by station. Enter your postcode in the checker above to see your station and its count this season, then confirm on the official DWP checker. DWP publishes its figures every Wednesday from early December, covering triggers up to the previous Friday.

Do I need to apply for a Cold Weather Payment?

No. If you’re eligible it’s paid automatically into the account your benefit goes into, so nobody needs to ask for your bank details. If you get Universal Credit or income-related ESA and you’ve had a baby or a child under 5 has come to live with you, report that change, or the payments won’t come automatically.

When will the money arrive?

GOV.UK says you should get the payment within 14 working days of the cold spell. If one doesn’t arrive, tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus, or add a note to your Universal Credit journal.

Which weather station is my postcode linked to?

DWP and the Met Office link each postcode district to the station whose climate best represents it. The list used here is DWP’s 2025/26 list, published 3 December 2025; DWP reviews the links every year and its next list is due in December 2026. The full table is on this page.

How many Cold Weather Payments were there last winter?

In 2025/26 DWP recorded 34 triggers across 31 of its 71 weather stations, and an estimated 1,447,000 payments in England and Wales. The count for your own station is in the table above.

I live in Scotland. Can I get a Cold Weather Payment?

No. Scotland pays a Winter Heating Payment instead: £62.00 for 2026/27, automatically to people on qualifying benefits, whatever the weather. Families of disabled children and young people may get the Child Winter Heating Payment, £265.50 for 2026/27.

Does Northern Ireland have Cold Weather Payments?

Yes. Northern Ireland runs its own scheme on the same terms: £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March, paid automatically. Its stations aren’t in DWP’s list, so use the nidirect checker.