DWP full list of benefits eligible for £25 payment whenever it gets cold

The Cold Weather Payment will only be paid to those eligible over the coming months

This winter, you could be eligible for payments of £25 each time the temperature drops, due to the Cold Weather Payment scheme. The scheme for 2025/26 has just begun, and you could receive £25 every time the average temperature in your area falls to zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days.

You can accumulate multiple Cold Weather Payments if there are numerous periods of freezing weather throughout the winter. These payments are issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

To qualify, you must be receiving certain benefits, reports the Mirror. These include:

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (if you get disability or pensioner premium, or you live with a child who is disabled, or you have 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)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (if you get severe or enhanced disability premium, or a pensioner premium, or you live with a child who is disabled, or you have a child under five living with you)
• Pension Credit
• Income Support (if you get disability or pensioner premium, or you live with a child who is disabled, or you 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,or a child under five living with you)

If you’re claiming Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you’ll need to get in touch with Jobcentre Plus to receive a Cold Weather Payment if you’ve either had a baby or a child under five has come to live with you. The Cold Weather Payment scheme will continue until 31 March 2026.

If you’re eligible for a payment, it should be automatically transferred into your bank account within 14 working days. This means that the majority of people won’t need to apply for it.

However, if you have a newborn or if a child under five comes to live with you, you will need to apply. You can verify if you’re due a payment in your area by using a postcode checker on GOV.UK..

Cold Weather Payments are not available in Scotland. They’ve been superseded by the Winter Heating Payment, which is valued at £59.75.