# What are cold weather payments and who can get them?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/what-are-cold-weather-payments-and-who-can-get-them/
- Published: 2026-11-11T12:49:31+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T13:34:27+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Business (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c87470q4w21o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Business, UK, World

## Key points

- Cold weather payments pay £25 for each qualifying seven-day cold spell.
- They are for eligible benefit recipients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Scotland pays a separate £62 winter heating payment.

## Summary

Cold weather payments provide extra help with fuel bills for some households when temperatures stay at or below freezing for a week. The scheme applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while Scotland has a separate winter heating payment that is not triggered by the weather.

A qualifying period is recorded or forecast by the weather station for a postcode, and each seven-day period brings a £25 payment. To qualify, people must already receive certain benefits, including income-related employment and support allowance or, in some cases, Universal Credit; the scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March. Payments are automatic and do not affect other benefits, and more than 1.4 million were made in winter 2025-26. Scotland’s separate payment is £62.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.