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The payments are designed to help people with certain benefits cover the additional cost of keeping warm when temperatures drop.
Eligible households will receive £25 for every seven-day period when the average temperature in their area is recorded or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius.
The scheme runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, meaning households could receive more payments if the freeze conditions persist.
It is important that the money is paid automatically, so that eligible people do not need a claim.
However, some households may need to tell the DWP about changes in their circumstances to make sure they don’t miss out.
Who qualifies for the £25 Cold Weather Payment?
The DWP says people receiving certain benefits may qualify for Cold Weather Payments.
These include:
- Pension credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Support for mortgage loans (SMI)
However, simply receiving one of these benefits does not necessarily mean you qualify. There are additional conditions depending on the benefit you claim.
Pensioners who receive pension credit
People who receive pension credit usually qualify for cold weather payments.
This is especially important for older households who struggle with heating costs during the winter months.
Pension credit is a means-tested benefit designed to increase the income of people over state pension age.
Universal Credit Claims
People who receive Universal Credit can usually qualify if they, and their partner, if they have one, are not employed or self-employed.
They must also meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Have a health condition or disability, which means they have a limited ability to work, with or without work activity.
- Have a child under five living with them.
Households with a disabled child amount included in their Universal Credit claim will also qualify, regardless of whether either adult is working or self-employed.
People who receive employment and support allowance
People claiming income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) usually qualify if they are in the work activity group or support group.
Those outside these groups may still be eligible if they receive certain additional premiums or have particular caregiving responsibilities.
These include:
- A severe or increased disability premium.
- A pension premium.
- Having a disabled child.
- A child under the age of five to live with them.
Support for mortgage lenders
People receiving Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) can also qualify, provided they are treated as receiving a qualifying benefit and meet certain additional conditions.
This includes a severe or increased disability premium, a pension premium, a disabled child or a child under five living in the household.
The DWP says that people can sometimes be treated as receiving a qualifying benefit, even if they don’t actually receive it, because their income is too high.
Parents warned to report changes to avoid
Some households may need to take action to ensure they get the money.
People who claim Universal Credit or income-related ESA must report a change of circumstances if they have a baby or a child under five comes to live with them.
This is important as the DWP will not automatically know about these changes.
Universal Credit claimants should report the change via their online account or contact the Universal Credit helpline. People who receive income-related ESA should tell Jobcentre Plus.
Failure to report the change could mean you miss out on payments you would otherwise qualify for.
We’re closing a loophole in Universal Credit Serious offenders detained for hospital treatment will no longer receive benefits during their living expenses NHS Watch Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden discusses the changes on @GMB
— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) October 20, 2026
When will the £25 payments arrive?
Cold weather payments are triggered when the average temperature in an eligible area is recorded or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or less for seven consecutive days.
For each qualifying seven-day period between November 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027, eligible households will receive £25.
The money should arrive within 14 business days of the qualifying cold weather period. It will be used directly into the same bank or building society account for existing benefits paid.
There is no need to apply or contact the DWP to trigger the payment if you already meet the eligibility requirements.
How to check if your area qualifies
Households in England and Wales can use the government’s online Cold Weather Payment Checker to see if their postcode has experienced a qualifying period of cold weather.
The checker is available here.
People living in Northern Ireland can use a separate postcode checker through Nidirect.
If someone thinks they should have received a payment but haven’t, they should contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
Universal Credit claimants can instead add a note to their online journal or contact the Universal Credit helpline.
Pensioners with earnings up to the value of the full new state pension (for £13,040 from April 2027) pay no tax. Mechanism not specified, I suspect there will be an effective increased pension allowance with a clawback for earnings on top. More when I know more. #Budget2026
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) October 28, 2026
Cold weather payments are different from winter fuel payments
It is important not to confuse cold weather payments with winter fuel payments.
Cold weather payments are triggered by freezing temperatures and will be £25 for each qualifying seven day period.
Winter fuel payments are a separate annual payment designed to help eligible pensioners with heating bills.
The two schemes have different eligibility rules and payment arrangements.
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What about people who live in Scotland?
People living in Scotland cannot receive cold weather payments.
Instead, they can qualify for the annual winter heating payment.
Unlike Cold Weather Payments, this is paid no matter how cold the weather gets in the recipient’s area.
