Cold Weather Payments can help people who recieving certain benefits with their heating costs during winter. A payment will be made for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. A network of weather stations covering the whole of Great Britain gathers temperature information. Payments will be made when the local temperature is either:
- Recorded as an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days
- Forecast to be an average zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days
Who can get Cold Weather Payments?
If you are already recieving some type of benefits or income support then you could be elegible for Cold Weather Payment. You don't need to apply. If you can get a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid it automatically. Below is a list of benefits or payments allow you to recieve the Cold Weather Payments;
Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
If you are getting Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you will usually receive Cold Weather Payments if you also have any of following:
- A disability or pensioner premium
- A child who is disabled
- Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- A child under five living with you
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you are in receipt of Income-related ESA, you will usually receive Cold Weather Payments if you also 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 five living with you
You don't need to apply. If you can get a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid it automatically.
Cold Weather Payments are usually paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments. After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should receive a payment to your account within 14 working days.
If you don’t receive your Cold Weather Payment
Tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not had one.
How much do you get?
You will get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
Cold Weather Payments will not affect other benefits you may be getting.