DWP: When and how people on benefits and Universal Credit can get £25 cold weather payment

When the temperatures start to drop, there's help you can claim to keep your house warm.

This winter, vital payments have already been made in Scotland where the temperature fell as low as -9.9 in Aberdeenshire.

But anywhere there is prolonged cold weather could trigger the £25 benefit.

The Cold Weather Payment is paid automatically.

But who is eligible for additional support?

Cold Weather Payment Scheme – what you can claim

The Cold Weather Payment Scheme is run by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and is available now until March 31 every year.

It offers people on certain benefits £25 for each period of unseasonably cold weather.

Cold Weather Payments are paid if the average temperature in that area, for seven consecutive days, is recorded as or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below.

The Cold Weather Payment does not affect any other benefits you may be receiving and is paid automatically into the same bank or building society account as the one used to pay benefits.

Those eligible will usually receive payments within 14 working days.

Who is eligible for cold weather payment?

To be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment, you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit – if the claimant is not employed or self-employed
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Additionally, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be in receipt of a disability or pension premium
• Have a child under five living with you
• Be in receipt of Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
• Have a health condition or disability   and have limited capability for work.
• Be in the work-related activity group or support group
• Have a severe or enhanced disability premium.

• Have a disabled child in the household – if you are receiving Universal Credit you will receive a CWP where this applies, whether you are working or not.

What is Universal Credit?

How can I check to see if I am due a cold weather payment?

Cold Weather Payment is paid automatically. If you are on a qualifying benefit you can check if your postcode has been triggered for a payment in the Government’s Cold Weather Payments postcode checker -  https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk

If you think you should have received a payment but haven’t, check: https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/how-to-claim

What is a winter fuel payment?

People aged 65 and over could also be eligible for winter fuel payments. Combined with cold weather payments, this gives those most in need the assurance that they can turn up their heating without the fear of an unaffordable bill. 

Minister for Welfare Delivery Will Quince said: "It’s critical that the most vulnerable get support when they need it most and sustained periods of cold weather can cause people to worry about their fuel bills.

"We know how important it is that people keep their homes warm during any cold snap, and cold weather and winter fuel payments enable them to do so."

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