What are cold weather payments and who can get them?
Summary
Cold weather payments help eligible households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with heating costs when local temperatures are recorded or forecast at 0°C or below for seven days in a row. Each qualifying period brings an automatic £25 payment; Scotland has a separate winter heating payment that does not depend on the weather.Key Facts
- People must live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and receive certain benefits to qualify for cold weather payments.
- Eligible benefits include Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit in some cases, and Support for Mortgage Interest.
- A qualifying period is seven consecutive days when the local average temperature is recorded or forecast to be 0°C or below.
- Each payment is £25, and people can receive more than one payment during winter if additional cold periods qualify.
- The scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March.
- Payments should arrive automatically in the recipient’s benefits account within two weeks of a qualifying cold period.
- More than 1.4 million cold weather payments were made during winter 2025–26.
- Scotland’s separate winter heating payment is £62 and is paid automatically between December and February.
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