More than one million households eligible for DWP cold weather payments amid Storm Goretti

Independent.co reports that over one million households across 802 postcode areas are now estimated to be eligible for a Department for Work and Pensions cold weather payment as Storm Goretti brings sub-zero conditions to parts of the UK for the period 30 December 2025 to 9 January 2026.

The Met Office has issued warnings for snow, ice, wind and rain and recorded the coldest night of the winter, with temperatures as low as -12.5C in parts of the Scottish Highlands, Norfolk and Suffolk. The DWP scheme pays £25 for every seven-day period when a postcode area's temperature is at or below zero; it runs from 1 November to 31 March and there have been eight trigger days since 1 November.

Pensions minister Torsten Bell said: 'As temperatures plunge, cold weather payments will automatically get support directly to vulnerable households. Combined with the biggest ever pension credit take-up campaign and our triple lock commitment – set to increase the state pension by up to £2,100 over this parliament – we’re ensuring pensioners get the support they need this winter.' Those eligible must receive at least one of pension credit, income support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, universal credit or support for mortgage interest, and those not on pension credit will typically need a health condition, caring responsibilities or young or disabled children; they must also live in an area that has experienced seven days of zero or sub-zero temperatures.

Key Topics

Politics, Dwp, Torsten Bell, Met Office, Storm Goretti, Cold Weather Payment