Cold Weather Payment
If you're on a low income, a Cold Weather Payment will help you with extra heating costs during very cold weather in your area.
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment for each week of very cold weather in your area if you get Pension Credit.
You may also be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment for each qualifying week if you are getting Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and have a child under five or get one of the following:
a pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium
a disability premium or severe disability premium
a disabled child premium
Child Tax Credit that includes an individual element for a child or qualifying young person who is disabled or severely disabled
Pension Credit Income Support Child Tax Credit - find out more How much do you get?
£8.50 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.
Effect on other benefits
Cold Weather Payments will not affect other benefits you may be getting.
How to apply
You don't need to apply; you'll get a Cold Weather Payment automatically as long as you qualify.
Tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not had one.
