Explainer

DWP cold weather payment: Are you eligible to receive £25 to help heat your home?

Many will struggle to heat their homes this winter due to the rising cost of energy bills. Credit: PA

With days of freezing cold weather and temperatures set to continue to fall, many households are resorting to switching on their heating.

However, this is a difficult decision for many, with the rise in energy prices meaning many will struggle to keep their houses warm this winter.

Snow and ice has swept across parts of Wales this week, with overnight frosts and daytime temperatures dipping below freezing.

But for those concerned about the cost implications of heating their homes, the government have introduced the DWP cold weather payment to help low income households.

What is DWP cold weather payment?

  • The scheme grants £25 to people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on low incomes every time the weather in their area is, or is forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.

  • DWP cold weather payment runs from 1 November until 31 March 2023.

How warm should your home be to keep you healthy?

Who is eligible to receive the £25 payment?

The scheme is calculated based on weather stations - it doesn't make a difference whether the temperature is actually below zero exactly where you live, it only counts if the station which measures your area records, or is forecast for, a continuous below-zero temperature for seven days.

You can use the official postcode checker to see if you're due a payment in your area. 

If the weather meets the requirements, the payment will be made to anyone registered with the Department for Work and Pensions to receive:

  • Pension Credit

  • Income Support

  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • Universal Credit

  • Support for Mortgage Interest

The disabled man fearing his loss of independence as energy prices rise

Is there any other help available with heating bills?

  • The Warm Home Discount - this is a £150 discount on your bills if you get Pension Credit or live in a low-income household.

  • Energy Bills Support Scheme - this is a a £400 non-repayable discount to households with a domestic electricity connection to help with their energy bills over winter 2022 to 2023.

Woman 'skips meals' to heat home as rising bills leave her with £15 a week