What is a Cold Weather Payment?

How much it pays

You get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. A period counts when the average temperature where you live is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for 7 days in a row.

You get £25 for each separate cold spell. For example, five cold spells in one winter would mean £125.

Who gets it

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you get:

• Pension Credit. You will usually get it.
• Income-related ESA, if you are in the work-related activity group or the support group. If you are in neither group, you may still get it if you have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a disabled child, or a child under 5 living with you.
• Universal Credit, if you and your partner are not employed or gainfully self-employed, and one of these applies: you or your partner have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, you have a child under 5 living with you, or your claim includes a disabled child amount.
• Support for Mortgage Interest, if you have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a disabled child, or a child under 5 living with you.

You do not need to apply

Payments are made automatically into the account your benefit is paid into, usually within 14 working days of a cold spell. If you think you missed a payment, contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus. If you get Universal Credit, add a note to your online journal.

How to check if your area has had a payment

Payments are triggered by weather station readings for each postcode area. GOV.UK has a postcode checker during the winter season.

It does not affect other benefits

Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits.

Where you live matters

Cold Weather Payments cover England and Wales. In Scotland you cannot get Cold Weather Payments. Social Security Scotland pays the Winter Heating Payment instead, a single payment each winter that does not depend on how cold it is. Northern Ireland has its own Cold Weather Payment scheme, also £25 for each 7-day cold spell from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.

Related guides

• What is the Winter Heating Payment?
• What is the Warm Home Discount?
• Can I get the Winter Fuel Payment?
• What is Pension Credit?
• Am I eligible for Universal Credit?

Where this comes from

• Cold Weather Payment (GOV.UK)
• Cold Weather Payment: eligibility (GOV.UK)
• Cold Weather Payment: when you'll get paid (GOV.UK)
• Winter Heating Payment (mygov.scot)
• Cold Weather Payment (nidirect)