Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

UK Freezes: £25 Payments for 674,000 Households Activated

1/5/2026

38 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

UK freezing temperatures trigger Met Office snow and ice warnings.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has activated the cold weather payment scheme, providing £25 to eligible households.
An estimated 674,000 households across 441 postcode areas are eligible.
Payments are deposited automatically into the same bank accounts used for benefits within 14 working days after the cold period, which runs November 1 to March 31 each year.

History

Historical Context

In 1988, the UK government launched the Cold Weather Payment Scheme to support vulnerable households during severe winters, providing £25 to eligible families when temperatures dropped below 0°C for seven consecutive days. This initiative, impacting around 674,000 households, reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen social safety nets amid extreme weather, paralleling current Met Office warnings of freezing temperatures.

1 of 2

Story summary

UK freezing temperatures trigger Met Office snow and ice warnings.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has activated the cold weather payment scheme, providing £25 to eligible households.
An estimated 674,000 households across 441 postcode areas are eligible.
Payments are deposited automatically into the same bank accounts used for benefits within 14 working days after the cold period, which runs November 1 to March 31 each year.

1 / 2