Cold Weather Payments provide £25 each time there is a week of very cold weather in your area. They are automatic — if you are on a qualifying benefit, the DWP pays you without you having to claim. But the rules on who qualifies vary by benefit, and many people miss out simply because they do not know whether they are entitled.
For the bigger picture on winter heating help, discounts and energy-bill support, see our Energy Grants, Discounts and Help with Bills hub.
What Is the Cold Weather Payment?
The Cold Weather Payment is a government payment of £25 for every 7-day period in which the average temperature in your area is recorded at, or forecast to be, 0°C or below.
A single winter can trigger several payments if there are multiple cold spells. In a harsh winter, you might receive £25 in November, £25 in January, and £25 in February — a total of £75.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Payment amount | £25 per qualifying week |
| Trigger | Average temperature 0°C or below for 7 consecutive days |
| How measured | Met Office data linked to your postcode |
| Payment method | Automatic — no application needed |
| Paid by | DWP |
| Scheme dates | 1 November to 31 March each year |
Who Qualifies for Cold Weather Payments?
Eligibility depends on which benefit you receive and your circumstances within that benefit.
Pension Credit
You qualify automatically if you receive any of:
- Guarantee Credit
- Savings Credit only (in some circumstances)
Income Support
You qualify if you receive Income Support and any of the following applies:
- You have a disability or pensioner premium
- You have a child who is disabled
- You are pregnant
- You have a child under 5
Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
You qualify if you receive income-based JSA and any of the following applies:
- You have a disability or pensioner premium
- A child under 5 lives with you
- A disabled child lives with you
Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
You qualify if you receive income-related ESA and any of the following:
- You are in the support group
- You have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- You have a pensioner premium
- A child under 5 lives with you
Universal Credit
You qualify if you receive Universal Credit and any of the following applies:
| UC Circumstances | Qualifies? |
|---|---|
| Limited capability for work element | ✅ Yes |
| Limited capability for work and work-related activity element | ✅ Yes |
| A child under 5 in your household | ✅ Yes |
| A disabled child element | ✅ Yes |
| You are responsible for a child under 16 and getting a health or disability element | ✅ Yes |
| UC with no health/disability/child under 5 | ❌ No |
Important: Simply being on Universal Credit is not enough. You must have one of the qualifying circumstances above.
How the Cold Trigger Works
The DWP works with the Met Office. Each postcode area is linked to a weather station. If that station records or forecasts an average daily temperature of 0°C or below for 7 consecutive days, a Cold Weather Payment is triggered for all qualifying claimants in that area.
You can check your local weather station and any live triggers at GOV.UK’s Cold Weather Payment checker.
Why Your Neighbour May Get a Payment and You Do Not
Payments are postcode-specific. Two streets a mile apart may be linked to different weather stations with different temperature readings. This can mean one area triggers a payment while another does not, even during the same cold spell.
Cold Weather Payment vs Winter Fuel Payment
These two schemes are often confused. Here are the key differences:
| Feature | Cold Weather Payment | Winter Fuel Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | £25 per qualifying week | £200 or £300 annual lump sum |
| Trigger | Actual cold temperatures | Annual — paid if born before qualifying date |
| Eligibility | Qualifying benefits (see above) | Must receive Pension Credit or certain other qualifying benefits (since 2024) |
| Application | Automatic | Usually automatic; some must claim |
| Frequency | Can receive multiple times per winter | Once per year |
| Age restriction | No — all ages if on qualifying benefit | Yes — must be pension age or over |
| Scotland | Replaced by Winter Heating Payment | Still paid |
Scotland: Winter Heating Payment Instead
In Scotland, Cold Weather Payments no longer apply. They have been replaced by the Winter Heating Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland.
| Feature | Winter Heating Payment (Scotland) |
|---|---|
| Amount | £58.75 per year (fixed) |
| Trigger | No weather trigger — paid automatically each year |
| Eligibility | Same qualifying benefits as Cold Weather Payment |
| Advantage | Guaranteed payment regardless of actual temperatures |
Read the full Scotland Winter Heating Payment guide.
When and How You Are Paid
Cold Weather Payments are usually paid within 14 days of a qualifying cold spell being counted. Payments are made by bank transfer to the same account that receives your qualifying benefit.
You will normally receive a letter from the DWP confirming the payment, though this may arrive after the money.
If You Think You Missed a Payment
If you believe a cold spell should have triggered a payment but you did not receive it:
- Check the GOV.UK Cold Weather Payment weather station checker for your postcode and confirm a payment was triggered for your area
- Call the DWP helpline for your qualifying benefit or check your benefit online account
- Raise a dispute if you believe a payment was missed
The DWP can backdate payments for up to 26 weeks after the trigger date.
Cold Weather Payment and Other Winter Support
Cold Weather Payments sit within a wider set of winter energy support:
| Scheme | What It Provides | Who Gets It |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Weather Payment | £25 per cold week | Qualifying benefit recipients |
| Warm Home Discount | £150 off electricity bill | Automatic or application, varies by supplier |
| Winter Fuel Payment | £200 or £300 annual lump sum | Pension age with qualifying benefits |
| Scotland Winter Heating Payment | £58.75/year | Scottish residents on qualifying benefits |
| Priority Services Register | Free extra support from suppliers | Vulnerable customers |
Tips to Reduce Fuel Bills in Cold Weather
Cold Weather Payments help, but there are other steps to manage cold-weather costs:
- Check if you’re on the Priority Services Register — energy companies must provide extra support
- Ask your energy supplier about the Warm Home Discount — £150 off your electricity bill
- Check for home insulation grants — loft, cavity wall, and solid wall insulation reduce heating costs long-term
- Apply for free boiler schemes if your boiler is old and inefficient