£140 Cold Weather Payment When Will it be Paid

Every winter, temperatures across the UK drop and heating costs rise — creating real challenges for families, pensioners, and people on low incomes. To help with this, the UK government offers the £140 Cold Weather Payment when will it be paid, a financial top-up designed to help with heating expenses when freezing weather hits.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explain exactly when it will be paid in 2025–2026, who’s eligible, and how it works — plus how it differs from the Winter Fuel Payment and Cost of Living Payment.

What Is the £140 Cold Weather Payment and Who Qualifies for It?

What is the Cold Weather Payment in the UK?

The Cold Weather Payment is a UK government scheme that provides extra financial help to those on certain benefits during extremely cold weather. For the 2025–2026 winter season, the payment amount has been increased to £140 per qualifying week of freezing weather.

It’s designed to help people cover heating costs when temperatures plunge. The payment is automatic — there’s no need to apply if you already receive a qualifying benefit.

Who is eligible to receive the £140 Cold Weather Payment in 2025–2026?

You may qualify if you receive one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Universal Credit

In some cases, additional criteria apply — for example, having a disability, child under 5, or limited capability for work.

As Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, often says,

“If you’re on certain benefits and it’s freezing outside, you shouldn’t have to worry about switching on your heating — the Cold Weather Payment is there to cover that gap.”

How does the Cold Weather Payment differ from the Winter Fuel Payment and Cost of Living Payment?

These three payments often get mixed up, but they serve different purposes:

So while the Winter Fuel Payment helps pensioners in general, the Cold Weather Payment is specifically linked to how cold it actually gets.

When Will the £140 Cold Weather Payment Be Paid in 2025–2026?

When does the Cold Weather Payment scheme start and end this winter?

The Cold Weather Payment scheme for the 2025–2026 winter season officially runs from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026. During these five months, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) keeps a close eye on temperature data from dozens of local weather stations across the UK.

If a local area experiences — or is forecasted to experience — an average daily temperature of 0°C or below for seven consecutive days, that automatically triggers a Cold Weather Payment. The scheme is reviewed every year, and start or end dates rarely change because this period typically covers the coldest part of the British winter.

How are payment dates decided and processed by the DWP?

The process behind the Cold Weather Payment is entirely automated and designed to prevent delays for those most in need. When a seven-day freezing period is recorded by the Met Office, the data is passed directly to the DWP’s central system.

From there, the system identifies all eligible households in the affected postcode area who receive qualifying benefits such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit. Once verified, a £140 payment is automatically generated for each qualifying person or household.

The DWP usually deposits this payment into your bank, building society, or Post Office account within 14 working days of the cold spell ending. You don’t have to make a claim or fill out any forms — everything is handled for you.

Can payment dates vary by region or temperature triggers?

Yes, payment dates vary because each area is linked to its nearest Met Office weather station. So while one region might qualify, another might not if temperatures differ slightly.

For example, a cold snap in Scotland may trigger payments there, while southern England may not meet the same temperature threshold.

How Does the Cold Weather Payment Work?

What temperature triggers a Cold Weather Payment in the UK?

A Cold Weather Payment is triggered when:

• The average daily temperature in your area is 0°C or below for seven days, or

• It’s forecasted to stay below freezing for that period.

This ensures payments are proactive — you don’t need to wait for snow to fall before help arrives.

How much will be paid and how is it calculated?

• Each qualifying cold spell earns you £140.

• Payments are per cold period, not per household per season.

• If there are multiple cold spells, you can receive multiple payments.

So, if your area experiences three freezing weeks, you could get £420 in total.

How often can you receive the £140 Cold Weather Payment in one winter?

There’s no set limit. Every time your area records a qualifying cold spell, another payment is issued. This means some parts of the UK — particularly the north — may receive several payments in one winter.

How Do You Claim the £140 Cold Weather Payment?

Do you need to apply for the Cold Weather Payment, or is it automatic?

You don’t need to apply — it’s automatic. The DWP checks your benefit status and triggers the payment if you qualify.

• Payments go directly into your bank, building society, or Post Office account.

• You’ll usually receive the money within two weeks of the qualifying cold spell.

What should you do if you do not receive your Cold Weather Payment?

If you believe you should have received a payment but haven’t, contact:

• Jobcentre Plus (if you’re on Income Support, ESA or JSA)

• Pension Service (if you receive Pension Credit)

• Universal Credit helpline

Make sure your bank details and address are up to date, as outdated records can cause delays.

Which benefits automatically qualify you for the payment?

You automatically qualify if you receive:

• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit element)

• Income-related ESA or JSA

• Income Support with disability or child elements

• Universal Credit (if not employed or with a health condition)

What Are the Differences Between the Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment, and Cost of Living Payment?

How do eligibility rules differ among these three UK winter benefits?

• Cold Weather Payment – based on temperature and benefit type

• Winter Fuel Payment – based on age and residence in the UK

• Cost of Living Payment – based on income-related benefits

Each is meant to support vulnerable groups in different ways.

Can you get all three payments in one winter?

Yes, you can.
If you qualify for each scheme, you’ll receive all three — they don’t affect each other. For example, a pensioner on Pension Credit could receive:

• Winter Fuel Payment

• Cold Weather Payment

• Cost of Living Payment

That’s a significant boost during expensive winter months.

How can you check if you’re entitled to multiple winter benefits?

You can check eligibility through:

• The Gov.uk benefits calculator

• Citizens Advice or Age UK

• Your local council’s benefits team

These tools help ensure you’re not missing any extra winter help.

What Are the Common Reasons for Missing a Cold Weather Payment?

Why might your local temperature not trigger a payment?

• Your area’s assigned weather station didn’t meet the 0°C average.

• The cold spell lasted fewer than seven days.

• You may live near a milder coastal region.

Even if it feels freezing, payments depend on Met Office readings, not personal thermometers.

What should you do if your benefit information is outdated or incorrect?

• Update your Universal Credit journal or benefit claim details immediately.

• Inform your Jobcentre or Pension Service if you’ve moved house or changed banks.

• Outdated data is one of the most common reasons payments are delayed.

How to contact the DWP or Jobcentre Plus for Cold Weather Payment issues?

You can call:

• Pension Service: 0800 731 0469

• Jobcentre Plus: 0800 169 0310

• Universal Credit Helpline: via your UC online account

How Does the Government Decide on Cold Weather Payment Thresholds?

Which weather stations are used to monitor temperatures for payments?

Across the UK, around 90 official Met Office weather stations are used to monitor temperatures for the Cold Weather Payment scheme. Each station records local weather conditions every day, and each postcode area is assigned to the nearest one.

How is the seven-day temperature average calculated?

The seven-day average is calculated using a method that blends both maximum and minimum daily temperatures recorded at each weather station.

The process looks like this:

1. The Met Office records the highest and lowest temperature for each day.

2. Those readings are averaged to create a daily mean temperature.

3. After seven consecutive days, those means are averaged together to get a seven-day mean temperature.

4. If that final figure is 0°C or below, a Cold Weather Payment is triggered for every postcode linked to that station.

For instance, if a station records temperatures between -2°C and +1°C across a week, the mean could easily fall below zero — automatically qualifying the area for a £140 payment.

What role does the Met Office play in triggering payments?

The Met Office plays a central role in the Cold Weather Payment system, acting as the official source of temperature verification. Its responsibilities go beyond simply measuring temperatures — it provides real-time and forecasted data to the DWP, which decides whether an area qualifies for payment.

What Should You Do If You’re Struggling With Heating Costs Before Payment Arrives?

Which emergency grants and local council funds can help temporarily?

• Apply for the Household Support Fund through your local council.

• Contact Citizens Advice for emergency energy vouchers.

• Ask your energy supplier about short-term payment plans.

What energy-saving schemes or fuel vouchers are available in 2025?

Look for:

• Warm Home Discount

• Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme

• Fuel bank vouchers from charities such as the Fuel Bank Foundation

Which charities and organisations offer extra winter support?

• Age UK – for pensioners and older adults.

• Turn2Us – for benefit checks and grants.

• National Energy Action (NEA) – for heating advice and energy efficiency help.

Conclusion

You can expect the £140 Cold Weather Payment anytime between November 2025 and March 2026, depending on when your local area experiences a cold spell. Payments arrive within 14 days after a qualifying period.

If you receive certain benefits and the temperature drops below freezing for seven days straight, you’ll get the payment automatically — no forms, no fuss. It’s a simple but vital lifeline to help keep homes warm this winter.

FAQs About the £140 Cold Weather Payment

1. Who gets the £140 Cold Weather Payment?

People receiving certain benefits like Pension Credit, Income Support, or Universal Credit during very cold weather.

2. What date will Winter Fuel Payment be paid?

It’s usually paid automatically between November and January each winter.

3. Do all pensioners get Cold Weather Payments?

No, only those getting Pension Credit or qualifying benefits receive it.

4. Cold Weather Payment postcode checker?

You can check eligibility by postcode on the UK Government website (gov.uk/cold-weather-payment).

5. How much is Cold Weather Payment?

It’s £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between November and March.