Today sees the start of Cold Weather Payments for this winter, a government scheme to help people with their heating bills when temperatures drop to zero.

It is a £25 grant paid out to eligible households whenever the average temperature in the area drops to freezing or below for seven consecutive days.

This is triggered if zero temperatures are either forecast or recorded between November 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

It's organised by postcodes, so pays out more regularly in the coldest areas, but often helps households all over the country during the chilliest winter periods.

It only runs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there's a one-off Winter Heating Payment of nearly £60.

The Cold Weather Payment is in addition to the Household Support Fund, Winter Fuel Payments and Warm Home Discount scheme.

Full details of the Cold Weather Payment scheme can be seen on the Gov.uk website.

Cold Weather Payments are usually paid to the following groups:

Pension Credit

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Pension Credit.

Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and have any of the following:

  • a disability or pensioner premium
  • a child who is disabled
  • Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
  • a child under 5 living with you

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group. If you’re not in either group, you might also get Cold Weather Payments if you have any of the following:

  • a severe or enhanced disability premium
  • a pensioner premium
  • a child who is disabled
  • Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
  • a child under 5 living with you

Universal Credit

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit and:

  • you are not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’
  • your partner is not employed or ‘gainfully self-employed’ (if you have a partner)

You’re likely to be considered ‘gainfully self-employed’ if being self-employed is your main job, you work regularly and expect to make a profit.

One of the following must also apply:

  • you or your partner have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)
  • you have a child under 5 living with you

You’ll also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim. It does not matter whether you or your partner are employed, self-employed or not working.

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) and you’re treated as getting a qualifying benefit where one of the following applies:

  • a severe or enhanced disability premium
  • a pensioner premium
  • you have a child who is disabled
  • you get Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
  • you have a child under 5 living with you

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You’re usually treated as getting a qualifying benefit if you apply for it but do not receive it because your income is too high.

People who are eligible do not need to apply for the Cold Weather Payment: they’ll receive it automatically.

Anyone who receives one of the above benefits and who has a baby, or begins looking after a child under five, this winter is encouraged to tell Jobcentre Plus. Claimants will not automatically receive the payments otherwise.