DWP activates £25 Cold Weather Payments as cold snap strains services

Overview

The Department for Work and Pensions has activated Cold Weather Payments worth £25 for eligible households after sustained sub-zero temperatures. The payment is triggered when the local average temperature is recorded or forecast as zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days. The move follows a deep cold snap that prompted amber "cold-health" alerts from the UK Health Security Agency and a spread of snow and ice warnings across the country. The Met Office recorded the coldest night of the winter, with several areas across the Scottish Highlands, Norfolk and Suffolk reaching as low as -12.5C.

Where payments were triggered

Local outlets published region-by-region lists of eligible postcodes. The Argus in Sussex listed Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath and Uckfield among the eligible postcodes. The Northampton Chronicle said 15 Northamptonshire postcode areas had been triggered. The Milton Keynes Citizen published a list showing 18 Milton Keynes postcodes now eligible. The Lancashire Post reported eight Lancashire postcode areas as eligible.

Payments are automatic for people on qualifying benefits and should arrive in the same bank or building society account normally used for benefit payments, usually within about 14 working days of the cold period. They should appear on recipients' bank statements with the payment reference 'DWP CWP'.

Discrepancies in reporting

Reports vary on scale: the Argus reported more than 450 postcodes; the BBC reported 697 postcodes; the Independent estimated over 700,000 households across 697 postcode areas; and the Leicester Mercury put eligible people at roughly 673,000. The Warrington Guardian said the new payments were triggered in a total of 246 postcode areas. Cambridge News reported the DWP had activated Cold Weather Payments across nearly 250 postcode areas and said around 500,000 households were eligible. The Independent also reported that over one million households across 802 postcode areas are now estimated to receive a payment.

Health services and emergency response

Health agencies warned that prolonged freezing conditions are likely to increase pressure on hospitals and social care and could lead to a rise in deaths among older and vulnerable people. Ambulance services reported spikes in demand: one trust said 999 calls rose 19% in the most recent week and other services recorded smaller increases. Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital temporarily closed its Minor Injuries Unit after it was overwhelmed by ice-related injuries; the unit reopened once demand subsided.

Roads, rescues and public safety

Icy roads produced multiple crashes in places such as Sheffield — an eyewitness described a series of incidents there as "absolute carnage" — while mountain rescue teams were deployed where ambulances could not reach addresses. Councils and highways teams also pre-treated roads: gritting crews in the West Midlands treated more than 270 miles ahead of snow.

Utilities, heating and frontline advice

Water and energy companies urged householders to take simple steps: Thames Water warned pipes can freeze and said it had carried out more than 100 cold-weather repairs a day, while British Gas published troubleshooting tips and said more than 1.2 million customers called engineers about boilers last winter. St John Ambulance issued first-aid guidance on hypothermia, frostbite and slips, and National Grid and ambulance services urged people to stock up on medication and only call 999 for life‑threatening emergencies as Storm Goretti approached.

Community response and warm spaces

Local charities and warm hubs reported strong demand and said they were vital to vulnerable residents. In Lincoln, visitors to Green Synergy described the hub as a vital part of their week and an organiser said the project had received a grant to support warm‑space sessions and hand out blankets and hot water bottles.

Eligibility, administration and practical steps

Cold Weather Payments run from 1 November to 31 March and are paid automatically to people on specified benefits including Pension Credit, income‑based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income‑related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, certain Universal Credit claimants and Support for Mortgage Interest. People do not need to apply but should tell Jobcentre Plus if they begin caring for a child under five to ensure they are recorded as eligible, and should contact the DWP if a payment does not arrive. The DWP relies on Met Office equipment to measure temperatures across all eligible UK postcodes. Those who disagree with the judgement are able to appeal directly to the department.

Voices and reactions

Health officials, charities and local figures spoke directly about the human impacts. Dr Agostinho Sousa of UKHSA urged people to check on vulnerable neighbours and warned the cold can increase risks such as heart attacks and chest infections; Caroline Abrahams of Age UK said the plunge in temperatures is hazardous for older people; and Professor Meghana Pandit was quoted in some coverage saying the NHS was under 'extraordinary pressure'. Utility and company spokespeople advised practical steps: Thames Water urged customers to winter‑proof pipes; British Gas engineers published basic checks to try before calling for a repair. Local eyewitnesses and patients described chaotic scenes on icy roads and in overstretched waiting rooms.

State of play

Confirmed: the DWP has activated Cold Weather Payments for affected postcodes and the UKHSA/Met Office have issued amber cold‑health alerts in multiple regions. Claimed or alleged: some outlets put the number of affected postcodes and eligible households much higher than others (estimates range from the low hundreds of postcodes to nearly 700 postcodes and several hundred thousand households). Disputed/unknown: the precise count of triggered postcode areas and the total number of households cited differ between outlets and remain a matter of reporting and DWP measurement. What happens next: the DWP says payments are paid automatically and should appear within about 14 working days; the Met Office and local services warn that Storm Goretti could bring a further spell of snow, ice and disruption over the coming days. A government statement said the payments would be delivered "Alongside our record Pension Credit take-up drive and the Triple Lock guarantee" to help protect pensioners this winter.