What are cold weather payments and who can get them?

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.