Map shows North East postcodes eligible for cold weather payments

A person using a central heating thermostat.
-Credit:PA


Those in the North East can now check to see if they are eligible for this winter's cold weather payments.

A total of 100,000 households in England are eligible for £50 cold weather payments so far this winter as temperatures dip below freezing across the country. Households will now be looking out for updates on the payments by the DWP which help people with their heating bills during cold snaps.

During the winter of 2024/25, the payments have been made in a number of postcode areas with the most recent payments triggered on January 4. The DWP authorises a cold weather payment when the average temperature is forecast to stay below zero for seven consecutive days in a particular area. The payments are made to people in receipt of certain benefits, depending on eligibility.

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READ MORE: DWP Cold Weather Payments and how much money you can get as North East postcodes eligible for cash

READ MORE: When Cold Weather Payments are triggered and who is eligible for DWP money - full rules

So far this winter, an estimated 100,000 households have been eligible for the payments. They include households living within postcode areas in Cumbria, four in Northumberland, two in County Durham and two postcodes areas in the Scottish Borders.

Some areas have now had two separate cold weather payments so far this winter, meaning they will receive a total of £50 towards the extra cost of heating their homes. The first £25 payments were triggered during the spell of cold weather in November and the second £25 payment was triggered last Thursday. Two County Durham postcodes will also receive a £25 payment.

£25 payments triggered on November 18 2024 and January 2 2025:
CA9 Leadgate, Cumbria
NE19 Elsdon, Northumberland
NE47 Allendale, Northumberland
NE48 Bellingham, Northumberland
NE49 Haltwhistle, Northumberland

£25 payments triggered on January 4 2025:
DL12 Cotherstone, County Durham
DL13 Stanhope, County Durham

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The DWP scheme runs every winter until March 31.

Cold weather payments are made to people in England and Wales who receive a range of benefits. A separate scheme is operated in Northern Ireland along similar lines, but in Scotland, support for heating bills is paid every winter and not linked to specific spells of cold weather. There are an estimated 3.9 million people who are eligible under the DWP scheme, and of these, 1.2 million are in receipt of Pensions Credit.

Last year, 364,000 payments were made across England and Wales at a total cost of £9.1 million. In some areas of Cumbria, the payments were triggered three times during separate spells of freezing weather last winter, meaning eligible recipients were paid £75 in total.


The DWP says those claiming the following benefits may be eligible for the cold weather payment; Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Support for Mortgage Interest. Not all those receiving these benefits will automatically receive a cold weather payment. There are a number of factors that will determine whether a payment will be made, and full details of those eligible are here: https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility

You can check payments for your postcode area on our interactive map here: