Last updated:
07 January 2024
When the temperature drops, your bills can skyrocket. Cold Weather Payments are one of the ways that you can get a bit of money back to offset the additional expense brought on by a harsh winter.
If you’re eligible for them, you can use these payments to help you afford to heat your home or buy warm clothes or extra bedding. If the temperature in your area dips below 0°C for seven or more consecutive days between the 1st of November and 31st of March, you could be entitled to a payment of £25 for each week of very cold weather. Only people on certain benefits can claim, and Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits.
People who already receive certain types of benefits should be automatically signed up to get Cold Weather Payments. £25 for each week of below-freezing weather will be paid into the same bank account as your other benefits.
If you already get Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and you either have a baby or a child under 5 comes to live with you, then you should tell Jobcentre Plus. You may now be eligible for Cold Weather Payments when you might not have been before your living situation changed.
All you need to do to see how many seven day periods of very cold weather have happened in your local area is to enter the first half of your postcode to the Department for Work and Pensions' Cold Weather Payment checker or use the NI Direct checkerOpens in a new window if you live in Northern Ireland.
Cold Weather Payments are only available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You might get an annual Winter Heating PaymentOpens in a new window instead if you live in Scotland. You’ll get this payment regardless of weather conditions in your area.
You should receive your Cold Weather Payment automatically within 14 days of the period of cold weather. If you don’t get a payment when you’re expecting to, get in touch with Jobcentre Plus or your pension centre.
You may be eligible to Cold Weather Payments if you’re receiving:
However, being on any of the above benefits doesn’t guarantee that you’ll qualify for Cold Weather Payments.
If you get Universal Credit and you’re not employed or self-employed you’ll usually receive Cold Weather Payments if one of the following also applies:
Personal Independence Payment is not one of the benefits that could entitle you to Cold Weather Payments. This type of payment is only available to people who are on income-related benefits.
Recipients of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will usually be able to get Cold Weather Payments if they’re in a work-related activity group or support group. If you get income-related ESA and are not in either group you could still get Cold Weather Payments if you have:
Carers or the person they care for could qualify for Cold Weather Payments if they get certain benefits. If in doubt check with Jobcentre Plus or your pension centre to see if you’re eligible.
Even if you don’t qualify for Cold Weather Payments, there are other ways you could get some relief on high winter bills.
Certain groups can claim a saving of £150 off their energy bill between September and March through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
You could qualify if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or are on a low income and get certain means-tested benefits.
Read more about the Warm Home Discount Scheme and how you can use it at GOV.UK (Opens in a new window)
If you were born before 25 September 1957 you could get between £250 and £600 each year to put towards your winter energy bills.
Find out if you qualify and how to apply
Energy prices are very high. From 1 April 2025 the Ofgem energy price cap is £1,849 for a typical household. This will change on 1 July 2025. In Northern Ireland, the Utility Regulator checks that prices charged are fair.
There are now a few fixed deals available at the price cap or slightly below it, so keep a close eye on prices. Try using comparison websites and be ready to switch when better deals become available.
