Cold Weather Payments are worth £25 every time the average temperature where you live hits zero degrees or below over seven consecutive days
The first Cold Weather Payments of this winter have been triggered – but in order to get one, you need to be in receipt of certain benefits.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issues Cold Weather Payments worth £25 every time the average temperature where you live hits zero degrees or below over seven consecutive days. You can receive multiple Cold Weather Payments if you get several periods of freezing weather over winter. You could be entitled to a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting one of the following benefits.
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Pension Credit
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Income Support (if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
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Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
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Universal Credit (if you’re not employed or “gainfully” self-employed, your partner is not employed or “gainfully” self-employed – you or your must also have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, or have a child under five living with you)
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Support for Mortgage Interest (if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
If you claim Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you will need to contact Jobcentre Plus to get a Cold Weather Payment if:
- You’ve had a baby
- A child under five has come to live with you
The Cold Weather Payment scheme will run until March 31, 2025. If you’re due a payment, the money should be paid into your bank account automatically within 14 working day – this means the majority of people won’t need to apply for it.
You would need to apply if you have a baby or if a child under the age of five comes to live with you. You can check if you are due a payment in your area by using a postcode checked on GOV.UK. The first Cold Weather Payments have been triggered in 18 postcodes this week after snow fell in parts of the UK. Cold Weather Payments are not available in Scotland anymore – but you might be entitled to an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment instead.
