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.

England and Wales: Enter your postcode here to check eligibility, external

Northern Ireland: Enter your postcode here to check eligibility, external

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

To qualify, you must live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

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

universal credit - although there are certain exceptions

Each cold weather payment is for a seven-day period and is worth £25.

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

The scheme runs between 1 November and 31 March each year.

Hospital stays can affect your entitlement to the payment so you should tell the Pension Service, external or Jobcentre Plus, external if you become an inpatient.

You should also update the relevant service if you have a baby, or if a child under five comes to live with you.

In Scotland, the winter heating payment is worth £62, external, and is paid automatically between December and February.

Heating tips to keep your home warm when budgets are squeezed

How to keep babies warm in cold weather and other winter tips

You do not have to do anything in order to receive cold weather payments.

The money should be paid automatically into the same bank or building society account as your benefits, within two weeks of the qualifying period of cold weather.

If you do not receive a payment, you can contact the Pension Service, external or Jobcentre Plus, external.

Cold weather payments do not affect other benefits.

They are separate to the winter fuel payment, which is worth £100 or £300 depending on your individual circumstances.

About nine million pensioners get the Winter Fuel Payment, after a government u-turn over changes to the eligibility rules.