The UK government offers cold weather payments to UK residents who meet certain conditions. The payment helps people cover the extra energy or heating costs in the winter and helps the people to survive the extreme winter.
The Department of Work and Pension has announced the cold weather payment for winter 2024-25. The England, Northern Ireland, and Wales residents can check the Cold weather payout for this winter here.
Cold Weather Payment
The UK government has announced the first cold weather payment on 01 Nov 2024 for 2024 winter. The payout is the additional money to support certain people to help them cover the additional cost that arises due to the cold weather in winter.
The government has announced the cold weather payout period between 01 November 2024 and 31 March 2025, where the recipients can receive a payment of up to £25 for each seven days of cold weather. The Cold weather payment does not affect other benefits so, the recipients can stay worry-free and receive the payout.
The authority allows the cold weather payout when the average temperature in your area is zero degrees or below zero degrees for continuous seven days. UK residents can claim these payments during the extreme winter and get the needed support to survive the winter while not worrying about the financial burden that will increase due to the heating cost.
What makes you eligible to receive the cold weather payment?
People living in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland receive the cold weather payment when they meet the certain following eligibility conditions:
- You are already receiving any of the following benefits from the government:
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Income-related ESA (Employment Support Allowance)
- For people who get Universal credit, it’s not essential to be employed or self-employed to receive the Cold Weather payment. If you have a health condition or disability or you have a dependent child under 5 living with you or the disabled child you qualify for the cold weather payout.
People living in Scotland do not have the UK government’s cold winter payment because the Scottish government already provides the Winter Heating Payment to eligible people to survive the winter.
What do you need to do to receive the Cold Weather payment?
People who meet the cold weather payment eligibility conditions do not need to apply for the payout as the DWP will automatically disburse the payment to the people who qualify for the Cold Weather Payment.
The DWP will pay the payment of £25 to the eligible recipients for each of seven continuous days when the temperature is zero degrees or below zero degrees to their bank account or building society account, where they receive the payout of the benefit they receive to qualify for the cold weather payout.
Though the eligible residents do not have to apply to receive the Cold Weather payment in winter, if they have an infant or child under 5 years of age who lives with them, they should contact the Jobcentre Plus if they get income support from JSA or income-related ESA.
People with a child under 5 should immediately contact Jobcentre Plus and inform them about the child to receive the payment as the Department will not disburse the payment automatically if they do not report the Jobcentre Plus.
When will you receive the Cold Weather Payment?
As we said earlier the Cold Weather payment will be made automatically unless you have a baby or child under 5. So, the eligible residents will receive the cold weather payment after every seven days when the average temperature in your area is zero degrees or below degrees.
The UK residents can expect the payment to their bank account or building society account after each seven days of extreme winter within 14 business days. The recipients would get the payout of £25 without any hassle, however, if you expect the payment but you did not receive the payment, you can contact the Jobcentre Plus or Pension Service office.
The recipients can inquire about their cold weather payment or they can also check the Universal Credit account or add a note to the journal to ask the department about the payment. The recipients can reach out to the department by any means and inquire about their undelivered cold weather payment and check if they need to provide some information to receive the payment.
What could affect your Cold Weather payment?
According to the UK government’s Cold Weather payment rules, the cold weather payment can be affected if you stay at a hospital or care home during the seven-day winter period. This is because most hospitals or healthcare homes have the proper heating facilities to protect the patient from the extreme winter weather.
So, if you stay at a hospital or healthcare home during the seven-day period, you should immediately inform the authority through Jobcentre Plus or Pension Service ( 0800 731 0469 or text 0800 731 0464) during the business days between 8 AM to 6 PM to get the appropriate payment.
You can also use the online account made for Universal credit or call the Universal Credit helpline number or phone number mentioned in the Universal credit letter. It’s essential to inform the authorities otherwise you can face consequences to receive the payment when you are actually staying in the hospital.
The Department of Work and Pension has announced the Cold Weather payment for Winter 2024-25 for the period 01 Nov 2024 to 31 Mar 2025, hence, do check the payment if you meet the eligibility conditions and face the extreme weather for continuous seven days this winter.