Cold weather payments – who is eligible for the £25 boost and how do I apply?
HARD-UP households can get £25 towards the cost of energy bills during long-periods of freezing weather.
Depending on where you live, you can get the money paid directly into your bank account within 14 days.
The free cash, known as the cold weather payment, comes from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
It is designed to help people on low incomes with their energy bills when temperatures plummet.
People tend to use more energy when temperatures drop as they need to turn their heating up.
Under the scheme, which runs between November 1 and March 31, households can get £25 during each seven days of low temperatures.
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You don't have to apply for payments, as they are made automatically if you qualify.
You might be due multiple payouts if the cold weather continues beyond seven days too.
Some areas have been paid as much as £75 in previous.
Here's the full list of postcodes that have qualified for one £25 payment over the 2023-24 winter period.
- Albemarle - DH1-7, DH9, DL4, DL5, DL14-17, NE1-13, NE15-18, NE20, NE21, NE23, NE25-46, SR1-7, TS21, TS28, TS29
- Bainbridge - BD23, BD24, DL8, DL11, DL12, DL13
- Bingley - BB4, BB8-12, BB18, BD1-22, HD3, HD-9, HX1-7, LS21, LS29, OL13, OL14, S36
- Blackburn - BB4, BB8-12, BB18
- Bolton - BL0-9
- Bradford - BD1-24
- Carlisle - CA1-9
- Cleveland - TS21, TS28-29
- Crewe - CW4, CW6-11
- Darlington - DL4-5, DL8, DL11-17
- Dumfries and Galloway - DG16
- Durham - DH1-9
- Fylingdales - YO13, YO18, YO21, YO22, YO62
- Halifax - HX1-7
- Huddersfield - HD3, HD7-9
- Leeds - LS21, LS29
- Manchester - M1-9, M11-35, M38, M4-46, M50, M90
- Newcastle upon Tyne - NE1-13, NE15-21, NE23, NE25-49
- Oldham - OL1-16
- Preston - PR7
- Redesdale - CA9, DH8, NE19, NE47, NE48, NE49
- Rochdale - BL0-9, M24, M26, OL1-12, OL15, OL16, SK15
- Rostherne - CW4, CW6-11, M1-9, M11-23, M25, M27-35, M38, M40, M41, M43-45, M46, M50, M90, PR7, SK1-12, SK14, SK16, WA1-16, WN1-8
- Shap - CA10-12, CA16, CA17, LA8-10, LA21-23
- Shawbury - SY1-6, SY11-13, TF1-13
- Sheffield - S36
- Shrewsbury - SY1-6, SY11-13
- Stockport - SK1-12, SK14-16
- Sunderland - SR1-7
- Telford - TF1-13
- Warrington - WA1-16
- Wigan - WN1-8
- Yorkshire - YO13, YO18, YO21-22, YO62
The following postcodes qualified for two £25 cold weather payments worth £50:
- Carlisle - CA10-12, CA16-17
- Lancaster - LA8-10, LA21-23
Who is eligible for cold weather payments?
Households are eligible for the extra cash if they are getting the following:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Support for mortgage interest
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to meet one or more of the following additional criteria:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
You can find out more about eligibility on the government's website.
Getting the cold weather payment doesn't affect any other benefits you get.
If you're eligible, you should get the payments automatically within 14 days, into the same account where you get your benefit payments.
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But if you think you should get the payment and haven't, then contact your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office, or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.