If the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days, you may be receiving a payment
What are cold weather payments?
The government provides £25 payments to people on specific benefits in areas where the average temperature is recorded as zero degrees or lower for seven consecutive days.
People can receive a £25 payment for each period of seven days that records these temperatures.
Payments are made per household, not per person, so only one payment will be made, even if multiple people in the same household qualify.
The period during which households can be eligible to receive the money runs from 1 November 2025 - 21 March 2026.
Who’s eligible to claim?
Only those who meet the criteria and are on certain benefits can receive the payments.
Those in receipt of:
1. Pension Credit
2. Income Support
3. Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
4. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
5. Universal Credit
6. Support for Mortgage Interest
Other criteria
Those receiving JSA must also have either a disability or pensioner premium, a disabled child, or a child under five living with them.
Those receiving ESA must also be in a work-related activity group or support group. If you’re not in either, you might still get cold weather payments if you have any of the following: a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a disabled child, or a child under five living with them.
Those receiving Universal Credit must also not be employed, 'gainfully self-employed', or have a partner who is either. Either the claimant or their partner must also have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work or have a child under five living with them.
Those who have a disabled child as part of their claim will also be eligible, regardless of whether the claimant or their partner is employed, self-employed, or not working.
Those in receipt of support for mortgage interest are eligible if one of the following applies: A severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, or a child under five living with the claimant.
You can check whether your postcode is eligible for a cold weather payment by typing in your postcode online.
