You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. 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. Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits.

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting: Pension Credit Income Support income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance income-related Employment and Support Allowance Universal Credit Support for Mortgage Interest Pension Credit You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Pension Credit . Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and have any of the following: a disability or pensioner premium a child who is disabled Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element a child under 5 living with you Income-related Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA ) You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group. If you’re not in either group, you might also get Cold Weather Payments if you have any of the following: a severe or enhanced disability premium a pensioner premium a child who is disabled Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element a child under 5 living with you Universal Credit You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit and you’re not employed or self-employed. One of the following must also apply: you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity) you have a child under 5 living with you You’ll also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you’re employed or not. Support for Mortgage Interest ( SMI ) You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Support for Mortgage Interest ( SMI ) .

You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment , you’ll be paid it automatically. The 2019 to 2020 Cold Weather Payment scheme has now ended. Next year’s scheme will start on 1 November 2020. You’ll be able to check if your area is due a payment in November 2020. If you have a baby or a child under 5 comes to live with you Tell Jobcentre Plus if you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance and: you’ve had a baby a child under 5 has come to live with you You will not automatically get Cold Weather Payments if you do not. If you do not receive your Cold Weather Payment Tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not. If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account and add a note to your journal. If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit claim.

Tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office if you go into hospital - this could affect your payment. If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account and add a note to your journal. If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit.

Cold Weather Payment

Overview

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

The 2019 to 2020 Cold Weather Payment scheme has now ended. Next year’s scheme will start on 1 November 2020. You’ll be able to check if your area is due a payment in November 2020.

Cold Weather Payments are different to Winter Fuel Payments.

Print entire guide

Cold Weather Payment

Overview

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Tell us whether you accept cookies

Cold Weather Payment

Overview

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK