Cold Weather Payments and how to get them
Polly Logan-Banks
Content EditorIf you’re getting certain benefits, you may be able to get Cold Weather Payments to help with the cost of heating your home in colder weather. Here's how it works.
Cold Weather Payments are extra money given to those on a low income who need help to pay for heating their home during very cold weather.
The payments kick in when the local temperature is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees celsius or below, for seven days in a row.
And the good news is, these payments don’t affect any other benefits you may be getting.
How much are Cold Weather Payments?
You’ll get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather, between 1 November and 31 March. The money is automatically paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.
Who can get Cold Weather Payments?
You may be able to get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
If you live in Scotland, you won't be eligible for Cold Weather Payments. Instead you'll get a one-off payment to help you through the winter. For winter 2023 to 2024 the payment in Scotland is £55.05. Find out about Winter Heating Payments on the Scottish government website.
Universal Credit
If you're getting Universal Credit, you'll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you (and your partner if you have one) are not employed or 'gainfully self employed', and either:
- you have a child under 5 living with you
- you (or your partner if you have one) have a health condition or disability that limits your capacity for work
You'll also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you're working or not.
Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
If you’re getting Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and any of the following apply, you’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments:
- a child under 5 living with you
- a disability or pensioner premium
- a child who is disabled
- Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you’re getting income-related ESA, you’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you're in a work-related activity group or support group. You may also get the payments if you have any of the following:
- a child under 5 living with you
- 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
Support for Mortgage Interest
If you're getting Support for Mortgage Interest, you'll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you're treated as getting a qualifying benefit where one of the following applies:
- you have a child under 5 living with you
- 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
When you have a new baby, or a child under 5 comes to live with you ...
If you get the relevant benefits and you have a new baby, or a child under 5 comes to live with you, tell Jobcentre Plus immediately – or you may not qualify for Cold Weather Payments.
How to get your Cold Weather Payment
You don't need to apply to get your Cold Weather Payment, it gets paid automatically if you meet any of the categories above. Check on the government website to see if your area is due a Cold Weather Payment.
What to do if you don’t receive your Cold Weather Payment
Tell your Jobcentre Plus office if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you haven’t had one. If you're getting Universal Credit, sign into your account and add a note to your journal, or ring the Universal Credit helpline.
The difference between Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments
Winter Fuel Payments are:
- for people born before 25 September 1957
- yearly one-off payments to help eligible people pay for their heating in the winter
- not linked to temperature.
Winter Fuel Payments are different to Cold Weather Payments, which are paid for each seven-day period of very cold weather in your area.
For more about the Cold Weather Payment scheme, visit the Government website.
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