The cold weather payment provides £25 towards heating expenditures for any seven-day spell of freezing weather during the winter. We’ve got all you need to know about who can get it, how to apply, and how to see if you’re owed a payment down below.
Who is eligible for cold weather assistance?
You will normally receive payments if you’re receiving:
- Pension Benefit. But only if you don’t reside in a nursing home.
- Income Support and a Jobseeker’s Allowance Based on Income. You’ll be eligible if you have a disability or pensioner premium, a disabled child. Get a Child Tax Credit with a disability or severe disability component, or if you have a child under the age of five living with you.
- Employment and Support Allowance Based on Income. You’ll be eligible if you have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a disabled kid. Get a Child Tax Credit with a disability or severe disability component, or if you have a child under the age of five living with you.
- The Universal Credit System. You’ll be eligible if you have a health condition or handicap that limits your capacity to work, or if you live with a kid under the age of five.
- Mortgage Interest Assistance (SMI). You’ll be eligible if you receive SMI and also have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a disabled kid, a Child Tax Credits with a disability or severe disability component, or a child under the age of five living with you.
In Scotland, you’ll get a £55 Winter Heating Payment
In Scotland, the winter heating payment has taken the place of the cold weather payment. Instead of a payment based on weather, all qualified homes will get a one-time payment of £55.05 to help with heating costs.
Eligibility is the same as it is for the cold weather payment system, but you must be receiving an eligible benefit during the ‘qualifying week’. The qualifying week for 2023 occurs between November 6 and November 12.
Throughout February and March, the Scottish Government pays payments to qualifying households. The payment will be made into the same bank account into which you receive your qualifying benefit, using the reference ‘WHP’. Before the payment is made, Social Security Scotland will send you a letter.
Check your cold weather payments to see whether you’re overdue.
If you’re unsure whether the temperature has reached the threshold, the Government has a convenient online postcode checker.
Simply input the first part of your postcode, and it will tell you if any payments are due in your region.
Haven’t received your payment yet?
If you haven’t received your cold weather payment but believe you are qualified, contact your local pension center or Jobcentre Plus office. They can look into it and resolve it for you.
If you are receiving Universal Credit, you can add a comment to your journal online or phone the Universal Credit helpdesk at 0800 328 5644.
