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Cold Weather Payments Activated Amid Upcoming Benefit Changes

1/15/2026

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DWP Activates Payments

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) activated Cold Weather Payments as temperatures drop.
Eligible recipients, primarily Pension Credit and Universal Credit claimants, receive £25 per seven days of severe cold.
1,466,000 payments have been triggered this winter, including Greater Manchester and Northumberland.
DWP plans to end legacy benefits such as Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by April 2026, urging claimants to transition to Universal Credit to avoid losing support.

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DWP Acknowledges Underpayment

The Department for Work and Pensions' administrative error left thousands of Universal Credit recipients underpaid because pension contributions were not deducted.
Expert Steve Webb noted the DWP acknowledged the mistake and adjusted payments for some claimants.
Webb added that many others may have been discouraged from pursuing claims.
New research shows two-thirds of divorcees rely on the state pension and face challenges building retirement savings compared with married individuals.

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DWP Activates Payments

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) activated Cold Weather Payments as temperatures drop.
Eligible recipients, primarily Pension Credit and Universal Credit claimants, receive £25 per seven days of severe cold.
1,466,000 payments have been triggered this winter, including Greater Manchester and Northumberland.
DWP plans to end legacy benefits such as Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by April 2026, urging claimants to transition to Universal Credit to avoid losing support.

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