It’s freezing!
A freezing start to 2026 in Meir
Freezing Stoke-on-Trent families are still missing out on the first £25 DWP Cold Weather payment of 2026. Six ST postcodes covering Biddulph, Leek and Cheadle have already triggered the eligibilty for the payment.
But the postcodes ST1 to ST7 are still to qualify. It comes as Stoke-on-Trent prepares to be hit with a 21-hour weather warning for snow and ice from 3pm this afternoon.
The DWP makes extra cash available over the winter when the temperature drops to help those in need pay for the cost of heating their home and keeping warm.
The scheme runs from November to March and the payments are issued based on the weather conditions in specific postcodes. Low-income families are then given £25 when the temperature drops to 0C or lower for seven days in a row.
Ten new postcodes added on Saturday 3 January were all in Wales.
Anyone living in one of the 451 eligible postcode areas and who qualifies for a Cold Weather Payment will get an automatic £25 payment landing in their bank account in the coming days. Payments are triggered and paid out within 14 days of the cold weather.
Those who are eligible for a Cold Weather Payment include those on the following benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
A DWP spokesman said: “You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible to get Cold Weather Payments, you’ll be paid automatically. If you’re eligible to get Cold Weather Payments, you’ll get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026. After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.”
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