For those who qualify, the Cold Weather Payment is a government grant given when the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days. The scheme for the 2025-26 winter starts on 1 November 2025. It is paid automatically to all those who qualify – there is no need to apply for it.
What is the Cold Weather Payment?
The Cold Weather Payment applies from 1 November to 31 March annually. If, during these times, the temperature where you live is recorded or forecast to be zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days, then – assuming you’re eligible – you’ll receive £25 for each seven-day period.
The Cold Weather Payment will not impact on any other benefits you receive, and you don’t need to repay it. It’s paid directly into the bank account you already receive benefits to.
It's worth noting that Cold Weather Payment is different to, and can be claimed in addition to, the Winter Fuel Payment.
When is the Cold Weather Payment due?
You should receive payment within 14 working days of the period of cold weather ending. The scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March each year.
Cold Weather Payment eligibility criteria
The cold weather grants may be available to you if you currently receive one or more of the following benefits and meet the additional criteria listed below:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI).
Additional criteria will apply depending on which benefit you receive:
| Benefit | Extra criteria required |
|---|---|
| Pension Credit | None, although you won’t receive this payment if you live in a care home |
| Income Support or JSA | A pensioner or disability premium; a child who is disabled; a child under 5 who lives with you; you’re receiving Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element |
| ESA or SMI* | A severe or enhanced disability premium; a pensioner premium; a child who is disabled; a child under 5 who lives with you; you’re receiving Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element |
| Universal Credit | You or your partner is not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’; you or your partner must also have a health condition or disability and have limited capacity for work OR you have a child under 5 living with you |
*Those receiving SMI support will get Cold Weather Payments as a qualifying benefit by applying for any of these benefits. That’s even if you subsequently don’t receive them because your income is too high.
To learn more about eligibility, visit the Government's dedicated Cold Weather Payment page.
Our interactive tool below can help you find out if you could be eligible for the Cold Weather Payment and other government schemes that can help with your energy bills:
Cold Weather Payment availability by region
England and Wales
The Cold Weather Payment is available to all residents of England and Wales who qualify for the grant. To see if your area qualifies for a payment during a recent spell of cold weather, use GOV.UK’s Cold Weather Payment postcode checker.
Northern Ireland
Residents of Northern Ireland who qualify for the payment will automatically be credited whenever the weather triggers the payment. To see if your area qualifies for a recent payment, use nidirect’s Cold Weather Payment postcode checker.
Scotland
The Cold Weather Payment scheme isn’t run in Scotland – it’s replaced by a different scheme called the Winter Heating Payment. This is a single payment made automatically between December and February each year to all eligible households. The payment in 2025 was £58.75. Visit the Winter Heating Payment page at mygov.scot for full details, including qualifying requirements.
How much is the Cold Weather Payment?
The Cold Weather Payment pays £25 for each seven-day qualifying period.
How can you use your postcode to check if you’re eligible for the Cold Weather Payment?
If your area has recently been subject to a spell of cold weather, you can input your postcode into a Cold Weather Payment checker website to see if it qualifies for a payment. There are different postcode checkers depending on where you live:
Enter the first half of your postcode (such as CO1) and click Continue. You’ll see how many payments you should have received so far, along with the dates the payments are for.
How to claim Cold Weather Payments
You do not need to claim any Cold Weather Payments. Like the Winter Fuel Payment, the Cold Weather Payment will be paid automatically to whichever account you’ve registered to receive benefits payments.
If you think you’re due a payment, but haven’t received one, use the postcode checker to first confirm your postcode was eligible for a Cold Weather Payment. Then contact your pension centre, Jobcentre Plus office or Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
When are Cold Weather Payments made?
You should be paid within 14 days of the cold weather period ending.
Is there other assistance out there for those struggling with energy bills?
There are a range of other benefits that you may be eligible for — and tips you can follow that have no eligibility requirements attached.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a yearly one-off payment that you may be eligible for over winter, but it is not related to temperature. It is entirely separate from the Cold Weather Payment.
The Winter Fuel Payment is made each winter to certain qualifying households, including the elderly and those on certain forms of income support, to help pay for increased energy bills over the winter period.
You may also be entitled to the Warm Home Discount. The Warm Home Discount is a similar scheme that provides rebates on energy bills. Qualifying homes receive a £150 rebate on their electricity bills. The rebate comes in the form of a discount on existing energy bills rather than a cash payment.
Like the Cold Weather Payment, the Warm Home Discount is usually paid automatically, with recipients receiving a letter confirming that the rebate will take place.
You may also be eligible to go on to the Priority Services Register. This provides additional support for vulnerable customers and varies according to energy supplier.
How else can I save on heating costs?
While there are plenty of grants and subsidies out there for households in need of help, you can still save money on your heating bills if you don't qualify.
The single easiest way to cut your household energy bill is to make sure your home retains more heat. Insulation starts with draught proofing, which is the cheapest way to save energy around the home. Just look for any areas around doors and windows that are letting in cold air, or even in chimney flues or letterboxes. Draught-proofing materials can be bought from any hardware store and are easy to install yourself. Read more about this in our insulation guides.
If you're considering taking extra measures to improve the insulation or energy efficiency in your home, it's worth checking if your home improvements would be covered by the government's Great British Insulation Scheme.
Don't forget, you may also be able to save money by switching your energy tariff or provider. All you need is an energy bill. You can compare and switch by clicking below.
Run an energy comparison
Click here to compare energy prices and get started on your energy switch.
