Cold Weather Payment winter heating bills UK, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): Thousands of households could receive extra financial help this winter as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) prepares to make Cold Weather Payments worth £25 during periods of freezing temperatures.
The payments are designed to help people on certain benefits cope with the additional costs of keeping warm when temperatures plummet. Eligible households will receive £25 for every seven-day period when the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below.
The scheme runs from November 1, 2026, until March 31, 2027, meaning households could receive multiple payments if freezing conditions persist. Importantly, the money is paid automatically, so eligible people do not need to make a claim.
However, some households may need to tell the DWP about changes in their circumstances to make sure they do not miss out. The DWP says people receiving certain benefits may qualify for Cold Weather Payments, but simply receiving one of these benefits does not necessarily mean you will qualify.
There are additional conditions depending on the benefit you claim.
People receiving Pension Credit will usually qualify for Cold Weather Payments. This is particularly important for older households struggling with heating costs during the winter months.
Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit designed to top up the income of people over State Pension age.
People receiving Universal Credit can usually qualify if they, and their partner if they have one, are not employed or gainfully self-employed. They must also meet at least one of the following conditions.
Households with a disabled child amount included in their Universal Credit claim will also qualify, regardless of whether either adult is working or self-employed.
People claiming income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will usually qualify if they are in the work-related activity group or support group. Those outside these groups may still be eligible if they receive certain additional premiums or have particular caring responsibilities.
People receiving Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) may also qualify, provided they are treated as receiving a qualifying benefit and meet certain additional conditions. These include having a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a disabled child or a child under five living in the household.
The DWP says people can sometimes be treated as receiving a qualifying benefit even if they do not actually receive it because their income is too high.
Some households may need to take action to make sure they receive the money. People claiming Universal Credit or income-related ESA must report a change in circumstances if they have a baby or a child under five comes to live with them, because the DWP will not automatically know about these changes.
Universal Credit claimants should report the change through their online account or contact the Universal Credit helpline. People receiving income-related ESA should tell Jobcentre Plus.
Failing to report the change could mean missing out on payments they would otherwise qualify for.
Cold Weather Payments are triggered when the average temperature in an eligible area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days. For every qualifying seven-day period between November 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027, eligible households will receive £25.
The money should arrive within 14 working days of the qualifying cold weather period. It will be paid directly into the same bank or building society account used for existing benefit payments.
There is no need to apply or contact the DWP to trigger the payment if you already meet the eligibility requirements.
Households in England and Wales can use the Government’s online Cold Weather Payment checker to see whether their postcode has experienced a qualifying period of cold weather. People living in Northern Ireland can use a separate postcode checker through nidirect.
If someone believes they should have received a payment but has not, they should contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus. Universal Credit claimants can instead add a note to their online journal or contact the Universal Credit helpline.
It is important not to confuse Cold Weather Payments with Winter Fuel Payments. Cold Weather Payments are triggered by freezing temperatures and are worth £25 for each qualifying seven-day period.
Winter Fuel Payments are a separate annual payment designed to help eligible pensioners with heating bills, and the two schemes have different eligibility rules and payment arrangements.
People living in Scotland cannot receive Cold Weather Payments. Instead, they may qualify for the annual Winter Heating Payment.
Unlike Cold Weather Payments, this is paid regardless of how cold the weather gets in the recipient’s area.
