Crime & Safety
DWP Cold Weather Payment scheme paid out £35m this year
The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed that almost 1.5 million households across England and Wales were supported through the Cold Weather Payment scheme before it closed at the end of March.
More than £35 million was paid out during the winter, with payments automatically triggered during periods of freezing temperatures.
Why you may have been paid £25 without knowing
The payments were issued when temperatures dropped to zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days in your area.
Eligible households, including pensioners and those on low incomes, did not need to apply, as the money was paid directly into bank accounts.
Support covered those on benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income Support, helping with heating costs during cold snaps.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “This support is a lifeline for vulnerable households when temperatures plummet.”
Check if your postcode triggered a payment
Because the scheme depended on local weather triggers, payments varied by postcode. Here are some of the areas that qualified this winter:
- North East (Albemarle area): DH, DL, NE, TS postcodes
- East of England (Andrewsfield): CB, CM, CO, RM, SG postcodes
- Yorkshire & North West (Bingley): BD, BB, HX, LS, OL, S postcodes
- North West (Carlisle): CA postcodes
- South East (Charlwood): RH, TN, BN, GU, ME postcodes
- Scotland borders (Charterhall, Eskdalemuir): TD, DG postcodes
- South Coast (Hurn): BH, DT, SP postcodes
- Midlands (Keele): ST, CW, SK postcodes
- Wales (Libanus, Lake Vyrnwy): CF, NP, LD, SY postcodes
- Norfolk & East (Marham, Tibenham): NR, PE, IP postcodes
- North East & Yorkshire (Loftus, Leeming): TS, YO, DL postcodes
- Greater Manchester (Rostherne, Rochdale): M, OL, BL, SK, WN postcodes
- London & South East (Rothamsted): AL, LU, WD, SG postcodes
- Midlands & South (Woburn, Stowe): MK, NN postcodes
If your postcode falls within one of these areas, you may have received one or more payments between November and March.
What happens now the scheme has ended
The Cold Weather Payment scheme ran from November 2025 and officially ended on March 31 2026, meaning no new payments will now be triggered until next winter.
However, households could still receive late payments if a qualifying cold spell occurred before the deadline.
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell said: “Almost 1.5 million households have already benefited from Cold Weather Payments this winter, with support reaching those who need it most.
“In addition, our biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign and our Triple Lock commitment, which will see the State Pension increase by up to £2,100 over this Parliament, are ensuring pensioners get the support they need.”
With energy bills remaining high, the payments provided crucial support during colder months.
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But because they were automatic, many people may not have noticed the extra money or realised they were eligible.
The Cold Weather Payment is just one part of wider cost of living help, including:
- £150 off energy bills
- £300 Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners
- Increased National Living Wage
- A new £1 billion support fund for households in crisis
Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age said: “Cold Weather Payments can be a lifeline during cold snaps.
“With more than half of older people on low incomes across England and Wales regularly sharing that they are worried about meeting the cost of their heating bill, it is crucial that vital support like this reaches those who need it most.
“We welcome this £35 million investment from the UK Government to support people of all ages struggling to heat their homes and look forward to continuing to work with the Government to ensure older people on low incomes receive the financial support they need.”
The monthly farmers’ market takes place in the market place on the third Friday of the month and runs until about 2pm.
There were lots of food stalls at the market on Friday, including one run by Thame-based Kimchi With Everything.
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Kimchi is a Korean dish of pickles eaten as a side dish, a wrap and as a condiment.
Tina Ng, who was running the stall selling fermented pickles and vegetables, said: “I come to this market quite often – it’s been quite busy for a Friday – very decent.”
The company said in a statement: “Our Kimchi are all naturally fermented for a minimum of 12 weeks so it increases maximum health benefits and tastiness.
“Creating a balance between the tanginess and deep flavours of the cabbage fermented.
“The taste of the Kimchi we always aim to achieve is Kimchi with a thickened, tangy brine, a balance of mellow cheesy notes, a touch of fizz, crunchiness of the cabbage, and a well-rounded moorish flavour.”
Another stall sold honey while others sold truffles, and vegetables.
There is also a regular Monday food market in the market place in Abingdon, plus a local excellent market which is held a number of times of year.
Founded in 2007 by brain injury survivor Andrew Baker, Play2Give has raised funds for projects across Oxfordshire that aim to ‘change, transform, and save lives.’
The Didcot-based charity supports children, health, and disability causes, and runs popular seasonal campaigns including Easter egg and Christmas Sleigh2Give toy drive.
Oxfordshire FA has announced it will support and compete in Play2Give’s 15th annual Charity Football Tournament at Wallingford Sports Park on July 12.
A spokesman for Play2Give said: “We are immensely excited to announce this new partnership with Oxfordshire’s very own Football Association.
“Being the new charity partner of Oxfordshire FA really is special, and a true Match of the Day-class partnership, that means that Play2Give can but only continue to grow and thrive, thanks to the fantastic premiership awareness and increase in funds for the charity that this truly special partnership will bring.
“Sport plays a powerful role in people’s wellbeing, such as in many cases improving quality of life, rebuilding lost skills and simply improving mental wellbeing – and so it’s a perfect link-up.”
The charity’s recent work includes funding a sensory room at Oxford Head Injury Services, a named patient room at the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital, and more than £3,000 towards renovating a bathroom at Sobell House hospice.
A spokesperson for Play2Give added: “By signing up for what is always a very special charity tournament, you will be helping us to make an enormous difference to the lives of so many – from children and families in hospital to those adults living with the impact of a brain injury, enhancing, changing, transforming and saving lives right here across the county.”
Oxfordshire FA’s chief executive Jonathan Duckworth highlighted the connection between football and wider community health.
Mr Duckworth said: “Oxfordshire football already saves NHS Oxfordshire £45 million every year through our support for mental and physical health and wellbeing.
“We have helped to promote the annual Play 2 Give six-a-side football tournament in the past and are hugely impressed by the way in which they support our local hospitals.”
He explained that the partnership will be part of the Oxfordshire FA’s 1884 Club, which focuses on supporting the community through corporate social responsibility.
Mr Duckworth said: “We’re encouraging our partners and others to get their boots on and have fun raising funds at this 12 July 2026 Charity Football Tournament – and join us in continuing to support the incredible work Play2Give does throughout the county.”
The tournament is open to teams from businesses and community groups across the region.
Thames Valley Police’s roads policing unit said buyers should ‘beware’ after a car was recently stopped and discovered to be stolen.
The ‘owner’ had bought it, they thought legitimately, through online second-hand retail platform Facebook marketplace, ‘thinking they’d found a bargain’.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire councils’ senior staff paid £13m last year
A spokesperson for police said: “Just a heads-up to everyone scrolling through marketplace looking for a good deal…
“Someone recently bought a car through Facebook marketplace, thinking they’d found a bargain.
“Everything looked legit at first, but it turns out the vehicle had actually been stolen.
“Now they’re left without the car and out of pocket, and learnt a tough and expensive lesson.”
Advise for would-be car buyers through retail platforms online includes checking the vehicle history through and HPI check, making sure the V5C logbook is present and matches the seller and verify the seller’s ID and address.
Police also recommended not paying in cash or without proper receipts and being ‘cautious’ of deals which look too good to be true.
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