Many households across England, Wales and Northern Ireland could be set for a welcome financial uplift as winter weather hits the UK. This monetary benefit is issued when temperatures are recorded or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days, subject to certain eligibility criteria.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) perk, known as Cold Weather Payments, is specifically designed to assist those receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest during colder periods. Typically, you automatically receive £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1 2025, to March 31, 2026.
After each cold spell, the payment is usually received within 14 working days and deposited into the same bank account or building society as your other benefits. Residents of England and Wales may be eligible for Cold Weather Payments if they receive:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
While Cold Weather Payments are not restricted to specific bills, they are intended to help with any costs associated with keeping you and your home warm. They could be particularly helpful for heating expenses, especially as many people are currently facing higher energy bills this winter following a 2% rise in Ofgem’s price cap.
This rise, which took effect on October 1, means that a ‘typical household’ using electricity and gas and paying by Direct Debit now pays around £1,755 per year. The price cap is also set to increase by 0.2% from January 1 to March 31, 2026.
Official advice from the UK Government’s website also adds: “You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. If you’re eligible, you’ll get these payments automatically.
“You do not need to apply, but you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus if you have a baby or if a child under five comes to live with you. The payments do not affect your other benefits.”
Nevertheless, whether you qualify will primarily depend on your individual circumstances. For instance, if you’re claiming Universal Credit, neither you nor your partner should be employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’ to qualify for the benefit.
To check your eligibility, people in England and Wales should refer to the GOV.UK website. Others in Northern Ireland can also refer to the NI Direct website for further information.
The Government’s website continues: “Tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus if you think you should have got a Cold Weather Payment but you have not. If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
“If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit claim.”
If you live in Scotland, you will not be eligible for Cold Weather Payments, but you may receive an annual Winter Heating Payment instead. See MyGov.Scot for more information.