The Department of Work and Pensions offers Cold Weather payments to support people with increasing heating costs in the winter. UK residents wondering about the Cold Weather Payment can check the payment date, payment amount, and other details here.
The DWP pays the Cold Weather Payment automatically to the eligible residents. The payment is made automatically based on the temperature in the area you are living in. The temperature should be recorded or forecasted to be zero degrees Celsius or below for a week.
There are some yellow weather warnings that have been put for some areas in the UK, so some people can expect the cold weather payment of up to £25. The benefit is different from the Warm Home Discount, so don’t get confused with the schemes.
Who will get the DWP Cold Weather Payments 2025/26?
If you are wondering what makes you eligible for the DWP Cold Weather payment 2025/26, you can check the eligibility conditions below:
- You will be eligible to receive the Cold Weather payment if you are getting one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- The payment is triggered for the cold weather of zero degrees Celsius or below, forecasted and detected for seven consecutive days between 01 November and 31 March 2026.
If you wish to check that your area qualifies for the DWP Cold Weather Payments, you can check the government website at https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/. The website will tell the area as per Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland.
How much will you receive under DWP Cold Weather payments?
The DWP will process the payment of £25 for each week where the temperature has been zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days. So, each time you experience cold weather for a week, you will be eligible to receive £25.
The DWP automatically processes the DWP Cold Weather Payments based on the weather forecast or weather report for seven consecutive days, if you received any of the mentioned benefits in the same way you received them. However, if you have a child under 5, you may need to inform Jobcentre Plus.
The payment will not be made automatically when you receive the JSA, ESA, and you have a child under 5 or when a child under 5 comes to live with you.
When will you receive the DWP Cold Weather Payments?
When a cold weather week is detected or forecasted in your area between 01 November 2025 and 31 March 2026, the DWP will process the payment to the eligible recipient’s bank account to Building Society account, the same as your benefit payment.
The DWP cold weather payment will be processed within 14 days of the cold weather week. The DWP announced the respective area with the cold weather week, when the payment is triggered. The DWP uses the Met Office temperature notice and processes the payments.
If you disagree with the DWP’s decision on the Cold Weather payment, you can appeal to the DWP. For now, no Cold Weather payment has been announced for any postcode; however, based on the weather forecast, some areas can expect the announcement soon.
What should you do if you do not receive the DWP cold weather payments?
If you do not receive the DWP Cold Weather payment within 14 days after the payment is announced for your area, despite being eligible for the payment, you should reach out to the respective authority:
- You should have reached out to the Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service and asked about the Cold Weather missing payment.
- If you received the Universal Credit and have become eligible for the Cold Weather payment. You should sign in to your Universal Credit account and write a note in the journal about the missing payment. If you do not have a UC account, you can call the UC helpline at 0800-328-5644.
The DWP Cold Weather Payment is processed every year for a certain period to assist people with the increasing heating costs and manage the additional expenses due to winter. The payment will help them survive the winter and get back some money for the heating costs.
Disclaimer: DWP Cold Weather Payments 2025/26 details are for informational purposes only. Eligibility and payment dates are determined by the DWP.