Cold Weather Payments

If you're receiving certain benefits, you may be able to get a Cold Weather Payment.

Payments are made when your local temperature is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

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

You don't need to apply for a cold weather payment - it's paid automatically. However, if you don't receive it, tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office

Check the table below to see if you can get Cold Weather Payments

Criteria for cold weather payments
Variable Details

Pension Credit

You'll usually get Cold Weather Payments

Income Support and Income based Jobseeker's Allowance

You'll usually get Cold Weather Payments and also if you have any of the following

  • A disability or pensions premium
  • A child who is disabled
  • Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
  • A child under 5 living with you
  • had a baby (don't forget to tell the Job Centre plus)

Income-related employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You'll usually get Cold Weather Payments and also if you have any of the following

  • the support or work-related component of ESA
  • 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
  • had a baby (don't forget to tell the Job Centre plus)

Universal Credit

You'll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you're not employed or self-employed and one of the following apply

  • you get a limited capability for work element (with or without a work related activity element)
  • you get the disabled child element in your claim
  • you have a child under 5 living with you

For more information visit Cold Weather Payment - Gov.uk website.

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