Map shows where cold weather payments triggered as widespread snow hits UK

The first Cold Weather Payments of the winter 2024/25 have been triggered for 18 postcode areas as snow blankets large areas of the UK. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Cold Weather Payments gives £25 to specific people for each seven-day period that the weather is forecast to be zero degrees.

The first payments have finally been triggered and around 10,000 people are now eligible for it. Twelve postcodes in Cumbria, four in Northumberland, and two postcodes in the Scottish Borders - which crosses into England - will be the first to receive their £25 payment to put towards their heating bills.

The Cold Weather Payments are only eligible between November 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, and the first payments were triggered on November 17. Eligibility depends on the benefits that people are on.

READ MORE: DWP Cold Weather Payment postcode checker for London and when it starts

READ MORE: Hot water bottle and electric blanket warning as snow hits UK

An estimated 3.9 million people are eligible for the payments, and the eligible benefits are Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, and Support for Mortgage Interest.

Despite being on those benefits, you may not be automatically eligible to receive Cold Weather Payments. There are a number of factors that will determine whether a payment will be made, and the full details of those eligible are here.

Last year, 364,000 payments were made across England and Wales, totalling £9.1 million. In some areas of Cumbria, the cold weather payments were triggered three times. The full list of postcode areas where eligible people will receive the first Cold Weather Payments are:

• CA9 Leadgate, Cumbria

• CA10Cliburn, Cumbria

• CA11Catterlen, Cumbria

• CA12Keswick, Cumbria

• CA16Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria

• CA17Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria

• LA8Kendal, Cumbria

• LA9Kendal, Cumbria

• LA10Sedbergh, Cumbria

• LA21Coniston, Cumbria

• LA22Lakes, Cumbria

• LA23Windermere, Cumbria

• NE19Elsdon, Northumberland

• NE47Allendale, Northumberland

• NE48Bellingham, Northumberland

• NE49Haltwhistle, Northumberland

• TD9 Scottish Borders (parts in England)

• DG14Dumfries border (parts in England)

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