Cold Weather Payment 2026/27: Will You Get £25 This Winter?

Quick summary: If you get certain benefits, you'll be paid £25 automatically for every seven-day spell of freezing weather where you live between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. You don't need to apply. Pension Credit usually qualifies you, and Universal Credit can too if you're not working and have a disability or health condition or a child under 5. People in Scotland get a yearly Winter Heating Payment instead. Applies in: England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own scheme, explained below. Figures checked September 2026. The key facts What Detail How much £25 for each seven-day cold spell When 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 What counts as a cold spell The average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven days in a row Do I need to apply? No, it's paid automatically if you qualify When does the money arrive? Usually within 14 working days of the cold spell Where is it paid? Into the same account as your benefits Who gets a Cold Weather Payment? You need to be getting one of these benefits, and meet the conditions that go with it. Pension Credit. You'll usually qualify. Universal Credit. You qualify if you (and your part

Cold Weather Payment 2026/27: Who Gets £25 and When

Quick summary: If you get certain benefits, you'll be paid £25 automatically for every seven-day spell of freezing weather where you live between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. You don't need to apply. Pension Credit usually qualifies you, and Universal Credit can too if you're not working and have a disability or health condition or a child under 5. People in Scotland get a yearly Winter Heating Payment instead.

Applies in: England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own scheme, explained below. Figures checked September 2026.

The key facts

What	Detail
How much	£25 for each seven-day cold spell
When	1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027
What counts as a cold spell	The average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven days in a row
Do I need to apply?	No, it's paid automatically if you qualify
When does the money arrive?	Usually within 14 working days of the cold spell
Where is it paid?	Into the same account as your benefits

Who gets a Cold Weather Payment?

You need to be getting one of these benefits, and meet the conditions that go with it.

Pension Credit. You'll usually qualify.
Universal Credit. You qualify if you (and your partner, if you have one) are not working or "gainfully self-employed", and you either have a health condition or disability that means you have limited capability for work, or you have a child under 5 living with you. If your claim includes the disabled child amount, you qualify whether or not you work.
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. You qualify if you're in the work-related activity group or support group, or you get certain premiums, have a disabled child or a child under 5.
Support for Mortgage Interest. You may qualify if you also have a child under 5, a disabled child or certain premiums.

The full rules are on the GOV.UK eligibility page. If you've recently had a baby, or a child under 5 has come to live with you, report it so your payments aren't missed.

How to check if a payment is due in your area

Cold spells are measured by weather station, so one town can get a payment while the next town doesn't.

England and Wales: use the Cold Weather Payment postcode checker
Northern Ireland: see the nidirect Cold Weather Payment page, which links to its own checker

What to do if a payment doesn't arrive

If your area had a cold spell and nothing arrives within 14 working days, tell the office that pays your benefit.

Universal Credit: add a note to your online journal, or call the number on your Universal Credit letters
Pension Credit or other benefits: contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus

Living in Scotland? Here's what you get instead

Cold Weather Payments don't exist in Scotland. Instead, Social Security Scotland pays a Winter Heating Payment of £62 once a year, whatever the weather. It's paid automatically from December if you get a qualifying benefit during the qualifying week, which is 2 to 8 November 2026.

Qualifying benefits include Pension Credit, and Universal Credit if you're not working and have a child under 5, a disability element or limited capability for work. If your Universal Credit includes a disabled child element, you can qualify even if you work. The full list is on mygov.scot.

Pensioners in Scotland may also get the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment of between £105.55 and £316.70. See mygov.scot for details.

Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners

The Winter Fuel Payment is separate from the Cold Weather Payment, and you can get both.

Who: people born on or before 27 June 1960 living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
How much: between £100 and £300 for winter 2026 to 2027
When: most people are paid automatically in November or December 2026, with a letter first
Income limit: if your own income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back. Your partner's income doesn't count towards this

Details are on the GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment page.

Other help with heating this winter

Warm Home Discount: £150 off your electricity bill if you qualify. Read our guide: Warm Home Discount: who qualifies
Cheaper electricity for now: the government has removed VAT from electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, according to Ofgem
Pension Credit: if you're over State Pension age and on a low income, claiming Pension Credit can unlock Cold Weather Payments too. See Pension Credit: the benefit pensioners are missing
Council crisis help: in England, your council may be able to help with heating costs. See how to apply for Crisis and Resilience Fund help

Watch out for scams

You will never be sent a text or email asking for your bank details to receive a Cold Weather Payment. It's paid automatically. If you get a message like this, don't click any link. Forward the text to 7726, which is free.

If you need food help today

If money for heating means there's nothing left for food, you're not alone. Find your nearest food bank and read how to get a food bank voucher or referral.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to apply for a Cold Weather Payment?

No. If you qualify, it's paid automatically into the same account as your benefits. You only need to act if you think you've missed a payment.

How much is the Cold Weather Payment in 2026/27?

It's £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. A long cold winter can mean several payments.

Can I get a Cold Weather Payment on Universal Credit if I work?

Usually not. The main exception is if your Universal Credit includes the disabled child amount, in which case you can qualify whether or not you work.