What are cold weather payments and who can get them?

Detailed summary

Some people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can get help with heating costs during cold spells.

As temperatures drop, heating costs rise, but there is some help for many households through cold weather payments.

This financial help is triggered across hundreds of postcodes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland when there is a prolonged period of below-zero temperatures.

In Scotland, those on low incomes and benefits may receive a separate winter heating payment, which does not depend on how cold it gets.

The cold weather payment is a government benefit top-up to help with fuel bills, external.

The average temperature in a local area must be recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below for seven days in a row.

The temperature is recorded by the relevant weather station for your postcode.

More than 1.4 million cold weather payments were made during winter 2025-26.

Payments are not age-related but you must already be receiving certain benefits, including:

More than one payment will be made during the course of the winter if there are enough periods of cold weather.

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