United Kingdom Cold Weather Payment
A Cold Weather Payment is triggered when the average temperature in an area reaches zero degrees celsius or below for 7 consecutive days. The payment is £25 per period, and the winter runs from November 2026 to March 2027.
- Amount
- £25 per 7-day period of cold weather.
- Trigger
- Average temperature of 0 degrees celsius or below for 7 consecutive days in the claimant's area.
- Winter period
- 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.
- Scotland
- Cold Weather Payments do not apply; a separate Winter Heating Payment might be available instead.
The trigger and the payment
GOV.UK states that a Cold Weather Payment of £25 is made for each 7-day period of very cold weather where the average temperature in the claimant's area is recorded as or forecast to be zero degrees celsius or below, between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. GOV.UK, Cold Weather Payment (opens in a new tab).
The payment is automatic for people receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest, and no application is required. GOV.UK, Cold Weather Payment (opens in a new tab).
Eligibility
GOV.UK states that a claimant must be receiving Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest, subject to further conditions for each, to receive Cold Weather Payments automatically. GOV.UK, Cold Weather Payment eligibility (opens in a new tab).
GOV.UK states that people getting Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance need to report having a baby or a child under 5 coming to live with them, and will not automatically get Cold Weather Payments otherwise. GOV.UK, Cold Weather Payment what you need to do (opens in a new tab).
The payments do not affect other benefits. Cold Weather Payments are different from Winter Fuel Payments. GOV.UK, Cold Weather Payment (opens in a new tab).
Scotland has a separate route
Cold Weather Payments do not apply in Scotland. Residents of Scotland might get an annual Winter Heating Payment instead, which is made regardless of weather conditions in the area. GOV.UK, Cold Weather Payment (opens in a new tab).
Scope
This is general information adapted from government material under the Open Government Licence v3.0, without endorsement or a recommendation. It does not assess individual entitlement or liability. No matching calculator or worked example is available here.