Cold Weather Payments will resume from this weekend, offering £25 to low-income households when temperatures drop to freezing or below. Nearly 1.5 million households in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland received payments during the 2025/26 scheme.
How the Payment Works
The £25 payment is awarded every time the average temperature in your area reaches zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days. The scheme runs each winter, from November 1 to March 31 the following year. Multiple payments can be received if several periods of freezing weather occur.
To qualify, you must be receiving certain benefits, including Pension Credit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest under specific conditions.
Eligibility Criteria
For Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, eligibility applies if you are in a work-related activity group or support group, or if you receive the severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, have a disabled child, or a child under five lives with you.
Universal Credit claimants qualify if you and your partner are not employed or gainfully self-employed and have a health condition or disability with limited capability for work, or have a child under five living with you. Eligibility also applies if you have a disabled child amount in your claim.
Automatic Payment Process
Most people do not need to apply for a Cold Weather Payment. If due a payment, the money should be paid automatically into your bank account within 14 working days. However, you may need to apply if you have a baby or a child under five comes to live with you.
Payments are made by the Department for Work and Pensions. Cold Weather Payments are not available in Scotland, where they have been replaced by the Winter Heating Payment worth £62.
