Katherine Young February 20, 2024

The cost of energy is still high so when temperatures drop many of us worry about whether we can afford to turn the heating on.

The good news is that when the mercury drops there may be extra help available for people who receive certain benefits or support from the government.

Here we explain what Cold Weather Payments are, who’s eligible, and when you might receive them.

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What are Cold Weather Payments?

Cold Weather Payments are a top-up benefit to help people on low incomes cover the cost of staying warm when the weather is freezing. Payments are made each time temperatures fall below freezing for seven consecutive days in the period between 1 November and 31 March each year.

The scheme applies to eligible people living in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

If you live in Scotland, there’s a different scheme called Winter Heating Payment. The eligibility criteria are the same as for the Cold Weather Payment scheme, but rather than getting paid whenever the temperature drops, you’ll get a one-off payment of £55.05 each year no matter how cold it is. You can read more about this on mygov.scot.

How much money do you get from Cold Weather Payments?

If you’re eligible for Cold Weather Payments, you’ll receive £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

So, if temperatures in your area drop below 0℃ for 2 weeks in December and then another week in February, you’d get £75. 

Payments are normally made within 14 working days of the cold period and are paid directly into your bank or building society.

Who qualifies for Cold Weather Payments?

To be eligible for Cold Weather Payments, you’ll need to live in England, Northern Ireland or Wales and be receiving one of the following benefits and meet the additional criteria:
Benefit / support Additional Criteria
Pension Credit Most people who get Pension Credit will receive Cold Weather Payments when relevant.
Income Support You can normally get Cold Weather Payments if you receive either of these and also have any of the following:
  • A disability or pensioner premium
  • A child who is disabled
  • Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
  • A child under 5 living with you.
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) If you get ESA and you’re in a work-related activity group or support group, you’ll normally get Cold Weather Payments. If you aren’t in a group, you might also be able to claim Cold Weather Payments if you have:
  • A severe or enhanced disability premium
  • A pensioner premium
  • A child who is disabled
  • Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
  • A child under 5 living with you.
Universal Credit You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if:
  • You get UC and you or your partner are not employed or gainfully self-employed 
AND
  • You or your partner have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)
OR
  • You have a child under 5 living with you.
If you have a disabled child amount to your UC you’ll also receive Cold Weather Payments regardless of your employment status.
Support for Mortgage Interest If you receive SMI and are treated as getting a qualifying benefit where one of the following applies, you’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments:
  • A severe or enhanced disability premium
  • A pensioner premium
  • You have a child who is disabled
  • You get Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
  • You have a child under 5 living with you.

What triggers Cold Weather Payments?

For Cold Weather Payments to be paid, the temperature in your postcode must fall below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days between 1 November and 31 March.

When can you claim Cold Weather Payments?

If you’re eligible for Cold Weather Payments, you’ll be paid automatically within 14 working days of the cold snap, so you don’t need to make a claim. If you think you should be receiving payments, but you aren’t getting them you should contact one of the following bodies:
  • Pension Service – if you get Pension Credit
  • Jobcentre Plus – for people receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit (UC) account – if you receive UC and think you should receive a payment either log in to your UC account and add a note to your journal or you can phone the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

Which areas have had Cold Weather Payments this year?

We’ve seen a few cold snaps this winter which has meant that Cold Weather Payments have been triggered in several areas in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The best way to check if a Cold Weather Payment has been triggered in your area is to use the postcode checking tool on gov.uk.

What’s the difference between Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments?

Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments are two different schemes, both of which are designed to help people cover heating costs over winter.

The key difference between the schemes is that the Winter Fuel Payment scheme is payable to anyone born before 25 September 1957, regardless of their income or savings, whereas Cold Weather Payments are for people receiving certain government benefits or support. Winter Fuel Payments are paid every winter, even if temperatures don’t fall below freezing.

You can read more about the Winter Fuel Payment in our article Winter Fuel Payment: who is eligible, and how can I claim?

Finally…

If you aren’t eligible for Cold Weather Payments, there might be other sources of support available to help you cover your energy bills. Our articles What can you do if you can’t pay your energy bills? and Are you eligible for help with heating costs? outline some of the options you might want to explore. 

Your energy supplier might also be able to help you, so have a look at our article Is your energy supplier offering grants to pay off energy debts? for more information.

Lots of people are struggling with their finances at the moment, and while it can feel overwhelming, it’s really important to talk about it. Charities such as StepChange, National Debtline and the Debt Advice Foundation all offer free debt advice and may be able to help you arrive at a manageable repayment plan with your creditors. The sooner you act, the better your chances of finding a workable solution so don’t be ashamed about speaking to someone during these times of crisis. Find out more in our article Are money worries affecting your mental health?

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Katherine Young

Katherine Young writes about a range of personal finance topics, but really enjoys getting into the nitty gritty of topics like the gender pension gap, savings, and everyday money-saving ideas. Katherine graduated with a degree in English Literature from Aberystwyth University, and now lives in South London with her husband.
Katherine is a keen foodie. When she's not browsing food markets or hunting down the best food in London, she spends her spare time painting, reading fantasy fiction and travelling.

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