The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issues the Cold Weather Payment automatically to people receiving certain benefits when temperatures drop to freezing or below for seven consecutive days. Last year, over 1.5 million households received the payment, which provides £25 for each qualifying period of very cold weather.
The 2026 to 2027 scheme runs from November 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. You will get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days. You can check next month whether your area is due a payment.
Who is eligible for the Cold Weather Payment?
You may get Cold Weather Payments if you are getting Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest. The payments are issued automatically, so you do not need to apply.
However, you may need to report a change in circumstances if you have a baby or if a child under five comes to live with you. The payments do not affect your other benefits.
How the payment is made
After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should receive a payment within 14 working days. It is paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.
If you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but have not, tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
