Cold Weather Payment Guide
Check your eligibility for the UK Cold Weather Payment and estimate how much you could receive this winter. Free, accurate guide covering the £25 trigger, qualifying benefits, and Scotland’s Winter Heating Payment.
Check Your Cold Weather Payment
Select your nation, the qualifying benefit you receive, and how many 7-day cold spells have been triggered in your area so far this winter to estimate your total payment.
Household Details
Enter your circumstances to check eligibility and estimate payments
Payment Evaluation
Estimated eligibility and total Cold Weather Payment
Cold Weather Payment Scheme Details
Key facts about the England, Wales, and Northern Ireland Cold Weather Payment scheme for winter 2025/26.
| Detail | Description | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheme Period | 1 Nov 2025 – 31 Mar 2026 | — | England, Wales & NI only |
| Trigger Condition | Avg. 0°C or below for 7 consecutive days | — | Measured at your linked weather station |
| Payment Per Period | Paid automatically per trigger | £25 | No limit on number of periods |
| Payment Timing | Within 14 working days of the cold spell | — | Same account as benefit payments |
Scotland’s Winter Heating Payment
Scotland replaced Cold Weather Payments with a single fixed annual payment, regardless of how many cold spells occur.
| Detail | Description | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Heating Payment | Paid once a year automatically | £59.75 | Winter 2025/26 rate |
Cold Weather Payment FAQ
Everything you need to know about eligibility, triggers, and payment timing.
You get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. There is no limit to how many payments you can receive if several cold spells are triggered in your area.
A payment is triggered when the average temperature at the weather station linked to your postcode is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for 7 consecutive days.
No, if you’re eligible you do not need to apply. Payments are made automatically into the same account as your benefit payments, usually within 14 working days of the qualifying cold spell ending.
No, Cold Weather Payments do not apply in Scotland. They have been replaced by the Winter Heating Payment, a fixed annual payment of £59.75 for winter 2025 to 2026, paid once regardless of how cold the winter is.