09 January 2024 , 08:50
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Families who are plunged into seven days of freezing weather will get a payment worth £25 thanks to the Cold Weather Payment scheme.
It's worth keeping an eye out for this extra help as snow hits this week. Cold Weather Payments started again on November 1, 2023, and will run until March 31, 2024. The money goes to people on low incomes who receive certain benefits - you can see a full list below.
You'll get a payment if the average temperature where you live hits zero degrees or below over seven consecutive days. The payments are worth £25 per seven day period, and the cash is paid within 14 working days.
You can receive multiple Cold Weather Payments if you get several periods of freezing weather. It should be paid into your bank account automatically - although there are some cases where you won't, which we'll explain below.
You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you're getting:
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Pension Credit
Income Support (if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
Universal Credit (if you're not employed or "gainfully" self-employed, your partner is not employed or "gainfully" self-employed - you or your must also have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, or have a child under five living with you)
Support for Mortgage Interest (if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
If you claim Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you will need to contact Jobcentre Plus to get a Cold Weather Payment if:
- You've had a baby
- A child under five has come to live with you
You can check if you are due a payment in your area by looking up your postcode. If you've not received a Cold Weather Payment and you think you're eligible, contact the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus.
Cold Weather Payments are not available in Scotland anymore - but you might be entitled to an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment instead.