Thousands of households across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland could receive additional financial support this winter as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) begins the 2026-27 Cold Weather Payment scheme. Eligible people can receive £25 for each qualifying seven-day period of freezing weather between November 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027.
The payments are intended to help people receiving certain benefits manage the additional costs of heating their homes during periods of exceptionally cold weather. Unlike some other winter support schemes, Cold Weather Payments are linked directly to local temperatures. This means households may receive more than one payment if freezing conditions continue or return during the winter.
The money is generally paid automatically to eligible benefit recipients. However, certain households may need to report changes in their circumstances to ensure the Department for Work and Pensions has the information needed to assess their eligibility.
The scheme is particularly relevant to pensioners, families with young children, and people with qualifying disabilities or health conditions who may face higher heating costs during colder months.
Here is what households need to know about the £25 Cold Weather Payment scheme, including eligibility rules, payment dates, and how to check whether their area has experienced qualifying temperatures.
Payments
The Cold Weather Payment scheme operates during the winter months, when temperatures can fall low enough to increase household heating requirements.
For the 2026-27 winter period, the scheme runs from November 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.
Eligible households receive £25 for every qualifying seven-day period when the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
The payment is designed to provide additional assistance with heating costs rather than replace existing benefits.
For example, if an eligible household experiences two separate qualifying periods of freezing weather during the winter, it could receive £50 in Cold Weather Payments.
The number of payments depends on the weather conditions in the recipient’s area and whether the household meets the relevant eligibility requirements.
The payment is not based on the amount of energy a household uses. Instead, the scheme uses recorded and forecast temperatures to determine when support is available.
The government provides information about the scheme through its official Cold Weather Payment guidance.
Eligibility
Cold Weather Payments are available to people receiving certain means-tested benefits or qualifying support.
The main qualifying benefits include:
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI), subject to qualifying conditions
However, receiving one of these benefits does not automatically mean a person will qualify for Cold Weather Payments.
Additional eligibility conditions may apply depending on the benefit being claimed, the household’s circumstances, and whether certain disability or childcare-related criteria are met.
The DWP assesses eligibility using information held about the claimant and their household.
People who believe they may qualify should check the official eligibility rules, particularly if their circumstances have changed recently.
Pensioners
People receiving Pension Credit will generally qualify for Cold Weather Payments.
Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit designed to provide additional financial support to people who have reached State Pension age and have a qualifying income.
The benefit can help pensioners with everyday living costs, particularly those whose retirement income is limited.
For eligible pensioners, Cold Weather Payments can provide additional assistance during periods when heating costs are likely to increase.
The support is especially relevant to older people who may need to maintain warmer indoor temperatures because of health conditions or other circumstances.
However, not every pensioner automatically qualifies for Cold Weather Payments.
Eligibility generally depends on receiving Pension Credit or meeting the qualifying conditions associated with another eligible benefit.
Pensioners who are unsure whether they qualify can review their benefit information or contact the Pension Service for assistance.
Universal
Universal Credit claimants may qualify for Cold Weather Payments if they meet certain conditions.
In general, the claimant and their partner, if they have one, must not be employed or gainfully self-employed.
They must also meet at least one of the qualifying conditions.
These include having a health condition or disability that results in limited capability for work, with or without work-related activity, or having a child under five living in the household.
Households with a disabled child amount included in their Universal Credit award may also qualify, regardless of whether either adult is working or self-employed.
These rules are important because Universal Credit is available to people in a wide range of financial and employment circumstances.
Simply receiving Universal Credit does not necessarily establish eligibility for a Cold Weather Payment.
The DWP considers the claimant’s circumstances and the relevant qualifying conditions when determining whether a payment is due.
Universal Credit recipients who have recently had a child or experienced another significant household change should ensure their online account contains accurate information.
ESA
People receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance may also qualify for Cold Weather Payments.
Eligibility generally applies to claimants who are placed in the work-related activity group or the support group.
However, some people outside these groups may still qualify if they receive certain additional premiums or meet specific household conditions.
These can include:
- A severe disability premium
- An enhanced disability premium
- A pensioner premium
- Having a disabled child
- Having a child under five living in the household
The precise eligibility requirements depend on the claimant’s circumstances and the type of support they receive.
People receiving income-related ESA should review their benefit information if they are uncertain whether they qualify.
Those who have experienced a change in household circumstances may need to notify Jobcentre Plus so the DWP can assess their entitlement correctly.
Mortgage
People receiving Support for Mortgage Interest may also qualify for Cold Weather Payments, provided they meet the relevant conditions.
Support for Mortgage Interest is designed to help eligible homeowners with interest payments on certain qualifying loans.
It is generally provided as a loan rather than a grant, meaning recipients may need to repay the support under the applicable rules.
Cold Weather Payment eligibility for SMI recipients depends on whether they are treated as receiving a qualifying benefit and whether they meet additional requirements.
These conditions may include receiving certain disability or pensioner premiums, having a disabled child, or having a child under five living in the household.
Some people may be treated as receiving a qualifying benefit even if their income means they do not receive an actual payment.
This can make the eligibility rules more complicated than they initially appear.
Homeowners receiving SMI should check the official government guidance rather than assume that receiving mortgage support automatically qualifies them for Cold Weather Payments.
Children
Families with young children may qualify for Cold Weather Payments under certain benefit arrangements.
For example, Universal Credit claimants may qualify if a child under five lives in their household and the other relevant eligibility conditions are met.
Households receiving income-related ESA may also qualify if they have a child under five or meet other qualifying conditions.
However, the DWP may not automatically know about every change in a household’s circumstances.
A child being born, moving into a household, or a change in caring responsibilities may affect eligibility.
Parents and carers should therefore ensure that the relevant benefit department has accurate information.
Universal Credit claimants can report changes through their online account or contact the Universal Credit helpline.
People receiving income-related ESA should notify Jobcentre Plus.
Reporting changes promptly can help prevent eligible households from missing out on support.
Dates
Cold Weather Payments are triggered when the average temperature in an eligible area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
The qualifying period must occur between November 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027.
For each qualifying seven-day period, eligible households receive £25.
The DWP generally pays the money within 14 working days of the qualifying cold weather period.
Payments are made directly into the same bank or building society account used for the recipient’s existing benefit payments.
There is no separate application process for people who already meet the eligibility requirements.
The amount a household receives during the winter depends on how many qualifying periods occur in its area.
For example:
| Qualifying Periods | Total Payment |
|---|---|
| One qualifying seven-day period | £25 |
| Two qualifying seven-day periods | £50 |
| Three qualifying seven-day periods | £75 |
| Four qualifying seven-day periods | £100 |
These examples show how payments can accumulate during a particularly cold winter.
However, the table does not represent a guaranteed payment amount. Actual payments depend on the weather conditions and the recipient’s eligibility.
Checker
Households in England and Wales can use the government’s online Cold Weather Payment checker to determine whether their postcode has experienced a qualifying period of cold weather.
The tool allows users to check whether payments have been triggered in their area.
The official checker is available here:
Check Cold Weather Payments by postcode
People living in Northern Ireland can use the separate postcode checker provided through the nidirect website.
It is important to remember that a qualifying weather period does not automatically mean every household in the area will receive a payment.
The recipient must also meet the relevant benefit and household eligibility conditions.
If someone believes they should have received a payment but has not, they should contact the appropriate benefit department.
Pension Credit recipients can contact the Pension Service, while people receiving income-related ESA can contact Jobcentre Plus.
Universal Credit claimants can add a note to their online journal or contact the Universal Credit helpline.
Scotland
People living in Scotland cannot receive Cold Weather Payments under the DWP scheme.
Instead, eligible households may receive the annual Winter Heating Payment.
Unlike Cold Weather Payments, Winter Heating Payment is not triggered by a period of freezing weather.
It is designed to provide eligible households with support towards heating costs during the winter, regardless of how cold the weather becomes in their area.
The payment follows a separate eligibility system and is administered under Scottish arrangements.
People living in Scotland should therefore check the relevant Scottish Government guidance rather than use the DWP Cold Weather Payment rules.
More information is available through the official Scottish Government Winter Heating Payment guidance.
Differences
Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments are separate schemes, even though both are intended to help households manage winter heating costs.
Cold Weather Payments are linked to freezing temperatures and provide £25 for every qualifying seven-day period.
Winter Fuel Payments are a separate annual payment designed to help eligible pensioners with heating expenses.
The eligibility requirements, payment arrangements, and amounts can differ between the two schemes.
A person who qualifies for one form of support should not automatically assume they qualify for the other.
The distinction is particularly important for pensioners, who may receive Pension Credit, Winter Fuel Payment, or other forms of assistance depending on their circumstances.
Households should review the relevant government guidance to understand which support may be available to them.
The 2026-27 Cold Weather Payment scheme provides eligible households with £25 for every qualifying seven-day period of freezing weather between November 1 and March 31. Payments are generally made automatically to people receiving qualifying benefits, although some households may need to report changes in their circumstances.
Pension Credit recipients, certain Universal Credit claimants, people receiving income-related ESA, and eligible SMI recipients may qualify. Households should check the official postcode checker and review the relevant eligibility rules to understand whether they can receive support. People living in Scotland should instead check the separate Winter Heating Payment scheme.
FAQs
How much is the Cold Weather Payment?
Eligible households receive £25 for each qualifying seven-day period of freezing weather.
When does the 2026-27 Cold Weather Payment scheme start?
The scheme runs from November 1, 2026, until March 31, 2027.
Do I need to apply for Cold Weather Payments?
No. Eligible households generally receive payments automatically.
Who qualifies for Cold Weather Payments?
People receiving certain benefits, including Pension Credit and qualifying Universal Credit, may qualify.
