Cold Weather Payment

Need help with your heating costs?

What is a Cold Weather Payment?

This is money towards extra heating costs during a week of very cold weather in your area.

You do not need to claim. If you can get a payment, you get it automatically. You do not have to pay the money back.

Can I get a Cold Weather Payment?

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you get one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
• Pension Credit.

If you get Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance in the assessment phase, or income-based Jobseekers Allowance, you must also receive a pensioner or disability premium or have a child who is disabled or under the age of 5.

What are the benefit rates?

This year you will get £25 when the average temperature where you live is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below, over seven consecutive days during the period from 1 November to 31 March. Specified Meteorological Office weather stations are used to obtain this information.

How do I claim?

You do not need to claim. We automatically pay anyone who can get a Cold Weather Payment. Tell your pension centre or contact Jobcentre Plus if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not had one.

More information can be found in the leaflet 'The Social Fund'.

 The Social Fund (684.78kb)

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