Millions of households received a £25 payment designed to help with winter costs through the Cold Weather Payment programme.
Government data from the Department for Work and Pensions indicates roughly 1.5 million families across England and Wales accessed the scheme before it finished at the close of March.
The combined sum distributed throughout the colder months surpassed £35 million, with payments triggered automatically whenever freezing temperatures continued for a week.
Considerable numbers of those who received the money were not conscious they had obtained it.
Payments were made when temperatures in their area stayed at zero degrees or below for a full seven-day period.
Eligible individuals—including pensioners and those with modest earnings—did not need to take any action, as funds appeared directly in their accounts.
Those entitled comprised individuals claiming benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income Support, with the money meant to cover heating expenditure during chilly spells.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden stated that this support provides crucial help for vulnerable families during periods of severe cold.
Postcode location determined support eligibility
As the initiative operated based on local temperature thresholds, entitlement differed by area. The following zones qualified this winter:
North East (Albemarle): DH, DL, NE, TS postcodes
East of England (Andrewsfield): CB, CM, CO, RM, SG postcodes
Yorkshire and North West (Bingley): BD, BB, HX, LS, OL, S postcodes
North West (Carlisle): CA postcodes
South East (Charlwood): RH, TN, BN, GU, ME postcodes
Scotland borders (Charterhall, Eskdalemuir): TD, DG postcodes
South Coast (Hurn): BH, DT, SP postcodes
Midlands (Keele): ST, CW, SK postcodes
Wales (Libanus, Lake Vyrnwy): CF, NP, LD, SY postcodes
Norfolk and East (Marham, Tibenham): NR, PE, IP postcodes
North East and Yorkshire (Loftus, Leeming): TS, YO, DL postcodes
Greater Manchester (Rostherne, Rochdale): M, OL, BL, SK, WN postcodes
London and South East (Rothamsted): AL, LU, WD, SG postcodes
Midlands and South (Woburn, Stowe): MK, NN postcodes
People living within these postcode districts may have received one or several payments between November and March.
The scheme has now finished
The Cold Weather Payment system operated from November 2025 and officially ceased on March 31 2026, meaning no new payments will be made until the next winter period.
Nonetheless, families could still obtain late transfers if a qualifying cold snap occurred before the cut-off date.
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell remarked that almost 1.5 million families have already obtained Cold Weather Payments this winter, with help reaching those who require it most. He added that the most comprehensive Pension Credit take-up campaign undertaken and the Triple Lock guarantee—which will see the State Pension increase by up to £2,100 during this Parliament—are ensuring pensioners obtain the assistance they deserve.
Given persistently high energy prices, these payments provided necessary support during colder months.
Since the transfers occurred without any action required from recipients, numerous people may not have noticed the extra money or realised they were entitled to it.
The Cold Weather Payment forms part of a wider package of cost of living support, including:
A £150 reduction on energy bills
Winter Fuel Payments of £300 for pensioners
An increased National Living Wage
A new £1 billion emergency fund for families facing hardship
Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, noted that Cold Weather Payments can prove vital during cold snaps. She observed that with over half of older people on low incomes throughout England and Wales regularly worrying about affording heating costs, it is essential that critical support of this kind reaches those who need it most. She welcomed this £35 million investment from the UK Government to help people of all ages struggling to heat their homes and looked forward to continuing to work with the Government to ensure older people on low incomes receive the financial support they need.