Hundreds of thousands of households across Greater Manchester are set to receive Cold Weather Payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after temperatures in the region plunged below freezing for seven consecutive days due to Storm Goretti.
The payments were officially triggered on January 7 after the Rochdale and Rostherne weather stations recorded average temperatures below 0°C between December 30 and January 6. This means eligible households should see the money appear in their accounts by January 20, according to DWP guidance.
Automatic £25 Cold Weather Payments for households across Greater Manchester
Cold Weather Payments are worth £25 per qualifying period and are designed to help vulnerable households with heating costs during periods of extreme cold. The money will be paid automatically to those who qualify – there’s no need to apply.
When the payment lands, it will show up in bank accounts with a reference including the customer’s National Insurance number followed by “DWP CWP”.
This round of payments covers more than 336,000 homes across Greater Manchester, with an estimated 532,000 households nationwide eligible this week. The support extends beyond the North West, with parts of Cumbria, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Wales, and Northern Ireland also qualifying.
Who is eligible for the Cold Weather Payments?
Cold Weather Payments go to people in England and Wales who receive one of the following benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
However, not every recipient of these benefits will automatically qualify – eligibility depends on additional factors, such as housing situation, disability components, or whether a child under five is present in the household.
Full details on eligibility can be found on the official gov.uk Cold Weather Payment page.
So far this winter, 697 postcode areas have triggered at least one round of £25 Cold Weather Payments, with 18 areas receiving two payments due to prolonged sub-zero conditions. Across England and Wales, a payment is triggered when the average temperature in a local area remains below freezing for seven consecutive days.
As Storm Goretti continues to sweep across the UK, many parts of Greater Manchester remain blanketed in snow, and further triggers could follow if cold conditions persist.
For households facing high energy bills, the payments offer timely support during what is expected to be one of the coldest starts to the year.
