Overview
- The DWP scheme pays £25 for each seven‑day period when the average temperature in a postcode is recorded or forecast at 0°C or below between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026.
- Qualifying benefits include Pension Credit, Income Support, income‑based JSA, income‑related ESA, Universal Credit and Support for Mortgage Interest.
- Postcodes are linked to Met Office weather stations, payments are automatic to the usual benefit account, and households can check eligibility using the official postcode tool.
- People on Income Support, income‑based JSA or income‑related ESA who recently had a baby or took in a child under five must contact Jobcentre Plus to ensure payment.
- Forecasters warn of temperatures down to −11°C in parts of Scotland and UKHSA cold‑health alerts are in place, but no postcode has triggered a payment so far this winter.