The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that eligible households will receive £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather from November 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The Cold Weather Payments are triggered when the average temperature where you live is recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days.
Who qualifies for the payment
Households must meet strict criteria to qualify for the support. Cold Weather Payments are only available to those in receipt of certain benefits, including Pension Credit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, and Support for Mortgage Interest.
You must also be living in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland to qualify. You cannot get Cold Weather Payments if you live in Scotland, but you might be eligible for an annual Winter Heating Payment instead.
How payments are made
If you’re eligible, the DWP will pay you the £25 automatically for each seven-day period of very cold weather, starting from November 1, so you don’t need to do anything to claim it. If you’re due a payment, the money will appear in your bank within 14 days, and the reference will start with your National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’.
The DWP said: “If you’re eligible to get Cold Weather Payments, you’ll get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. The 2025 to 2026 Cold Weather Payment scheme has now ended. The 2026 to 2027 scheme will start on 1 November 2026. You’ll be able to check if your area is due a payment in November 2026. After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.”
What to do if you miss a payment
If you don’t get your Cold Weather Payments but you think you should have, the DWP says to tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus, while those on Universal Credit should sign into their account and add a note to their journal.
The Cold Weather Payments come in addition to other government schemes to help households through the cold winter months, with Winter Fuel Payments due to rollout to eligible pensioners from November, while the Warm Home Discount scheme reopens from October to provide homes in England, Wales, and Scotland with a one-off £150 discount off electricity bills.
