A Cold Weather Payment is money to help with fuel costs during periods of very cold weather.

The temperature in the area where you live must be zero degrees celsius or below, for at least seven days in a row, between 1 November and 31 March.

Applies to: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (the benefit has been replaced in Scotland by Winter Heating Payment)

Age rules: There are no specific age rules

Type of benefit: Means tested

Taxable: No

Administered by: JobCentre Plus
 

You cannot get a Cold Weather Payment if you live in Scotland. You might be able to get Winter Heating Assistance instead.

You might qualify for a Cold Weather Payment if you are claiming Pension Credit and do not live in a care home.

You may also be able to get a Cold Weather Payment if you do not live in a care home and are claiming Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit as long as one of these statements also applies to you:

• You get an extra amount in your benefit (a premium) for having a disability or for being over state pension age
• You have a child under five (if you get Universal Credit, you must not be working)
• You have a disabled child and you get Child Tax Credit with an extra amount for their disability
• You aren't working and your Universal Credit includes an element for having
  • Limited Capability for Work Related Activity, or
  • Limited Capability for Work, or
  • a disabled child

Reviewed: December 2022

You will receive £25.00 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

How will I be paid a Cold Weather Payment?

A Cold Weather Payment will be paid directly into your Bank or Building Society or through the Payment Exception Service if you are unable to open or manage one of these or a similar account.

After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days.

Cold Weather Payment and other benefits

A Cold Weather Payment does not affect any other benefits or tax credits.

Reviewed: June 2022

If you qualify for a Cold Weather Payment, you will automatically be sent the money. You do not need to make a claim.

Tell the Pension helpline (if you are over pension age) or your Jobcentre Plus office (if you are not yet pension age) if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not had one. If you get Universal Credit you can leave a note on your journal. 

Reviewed: June 2022
 

If you disagree with the decision made on your claim you can usually ask for it to be looked at again. This is known as a 'mandatory reconsideration'. The DWP will look again at the decision. They will either tell you that the decision has stayed the same, or they will tell you they have changed their decision. If you still disagree with the decision you can then appeal to an independent tribunal.

The time limits are strict, you will usually be given one month to dispute a decision, so it is important to seek advice and act quickly.

See our guide to challenging decisions which includes the different process for challenging decisions in Northern Ireland: Challenging Department of Work and Pensions Benefit Decisions 

Reviewed: June 2022