About 11,000 cold weather payments have been made by the government so far this winter to households in parts of England and Wales.
The £25 payments are designed to help low-income and vulnerable households pay for energy bills when temperatures drop below freezing.
According to figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), there have been six cold weather payment triggers since November. These have been in Cumbria, Northumberland, and on the Dumfries and Galloway border.
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The payment is separate to the Winter Fuel Payment. If you’re claiming Pension Credit, you’ll be eligible for a cold weather payment – but whether you receive one depends on the temperature where you live.
The cold snap in the UK has continued this week, with airports closing their runways due to heavy snow, warnings of icy roads and travel disruption, and flood alerts.
We explain how cold weather payments work, who’s eligible and how the money is paid.
Who is eligible for a cold weather payment?
Cold weather payments are a government benefit. The money is intended to help with gas and electricity bills during times of extremely cold weather.
About 4.1 million people are eligible for them. So far, 11,000 payments have been made between 1 November, 2024 and 3 January, 2025. About half of these were made at the end of November, when freezing temperatures gripped parts of England and Wales. The other half were made this week.
To qualify, you must be getting one of these benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseekers’ allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
There are extra criteria that you must meet depending on which benefits you get. For example if you’re receiving Universal Credit, you and your partner must not be employed or self-employed, and you must either have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, or have a child under five living with you.
If you get Pension Credit, you’ll usually get cold weather payments. More than a quarter of people eligible for cold weather payments receive Pension Credit (about 1.2 million people).
How to check if a cold weather payment is due
If you live in England or Wales, have a look at the online postcode checker to see which areas are currently eligible for cold weather payments.
If you live in Northern Ireland, check on NIDirect to see if your postcode is in an area due to receive a £25 payment.
The system is different in Scotland; those on low incomes and benefits may instead receive the winter heating payment, worth £58.75, which is a single payment that’s not based on weather conditions.
How much is the cold weather payment?
Each cold weather payment is paid for a seven-day period and is worth £25. It’s possible you may receive several during a particularly cold winter.
You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven days in a row.
The current scheme covers the period between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.
Some areas have already triggered more than one cold weather payment this winter. For example, 5,000 eligible residents near the weather station in Shap, Cumbria, have already received two payments this winter.
How do I claim a cold weather payment?
The payments are automatic, so if you are eligible you do not need to apply.
You’ll get the payment within 14 working days into the bank or building society account that you receive your benefit payments.
I think I should have got cold weather payment, but I haven’t received anything
If payments have been triggered in your area (you can use the postcode checker on gov.uk) and you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, but you haven’t received a payment yet, contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
I don’t qualify for cold weather payment. What other energy bills help is available?
First, check that you are claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to. Millions of pounds of government money goes unclaimed every year.
For example, if you successfully apply for Pension Credit, you’ll be eligible for cold weather payments as well as other benefits like Winter Fuel Payment and help with NHS costs.
If you’re struggling with your energy bills, check if your energy supplier offers support. For example, it may offer grants, a reduction in your bill, or more time to pay.
