Automatic extra payments of £25 are set to be triggered for people on four Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits this winter, providing crucial support during cold snaps. The Cold Weather Payments scheme, which runs from November to March, automatically issues payments to eligible recipients when the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
Eligible Benefits for Cold Weather Payments
The DWP has confirmed that you may receive Cold Weather Payments if you are claiming any of the following benefits: Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest. If you are eligible, payments are made automatically without the need to apply. However, you may need to report a change in circumstances if you have a baby or if a child under five comes to live with you.
For each seven-day period of very cold weather, eligible households receive £25. This payment is typically deposited into the same bank or building society account as your regular benefit payments within 14 working days after the cold period ends.
Government and Charity Responses
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden said: "This support is a lifeline for vulnerable households when temperatures plummet. Combined with our wider cost of living support – including a higher National Living Wage, £150 off energy bills, and a £300 Winter Fuel Payment for over nine million pensioners - these measures are making a real difference to households across the country."
Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, added: "Cold Weather Payments can be a lifeline during cold snaps. With more than half of older people on low incomes across England and Wales regularly sharing that they are worried about meeting the cost of their heating bill, it is crucial that vital support like this reaches those who need it most. We welcome this £35 million investment from the UK Government to support people of all ages struggling to heat their homes and look forward to continuing to work with the Government to ensure older people on low incomes receive the financial support they need."
Broader Cost of Living Support
Despite it being the height of summer, the cost of living crisis continues to impact households across the UK. The Cold Weather Payments are part of a wider package of support that includes a higher National Living Wage, a £150 reduction in energy bills, and a £300 Winter Fuel Payment for over nine million pensioners. These measures aim to provide financial relief to vulnerable groups during the colder months, when heating costs rise significantly.
