As temperatures plunge this week, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reminding homes across the UK that they could be eligible for a £25 Cold Weather Payment.
The scheme is designed to help homes with redundant costs when the temperature drops to zero degrees or below for seven successive days.
With this week seeing temperatures dip as low as -7 °C, many will be turning on the heating for the first time this winter, but with energy bills on the rise, that redundant cost can be unpleasant.
Energy bills increased in October 2025 after a 2% rise in the energy price cap, which affects millions of homes on variable tariffs. On average, a typical ménage now pays around £1,755 per time, an increase of roughly £35.
Check Your Eligibility for Winter Heating Support
The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs annually from 1 November to 31 March. However, the payment will be automatically transferred to your account within 14 days of the cold spell if your area gets seven days of enduring temperatures.
To check if you qualify, you can use the Government’s postcode tool, which will confirm whether homes in your area will accept the payment.
The Met Office has issued a yellow rainfall warning for Wednesday, November 19, covering 11 hours from night to 11 am. Icy roads and hill snow are anticipated in the corridor of the West Midlands.
The Met Office said: “Yellow warning: Rain and hill snow, followed by clearing skies, will lead to the risk of icy patches on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Outbreaks of rain will spread southwards on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, potentially falling as snow on hills for a time, before clearing to the south.
As the skies clear later, allowing temperatures to fall close to or below freezing, this will bring the risk of icy patches on untreated surfaces.
Some temporary slushy snow deposits will be possible where snow persists for long enough, especially on grassy surfaces, but any significant accumulations will be largely restricted to communities and transport routes above about 300 m elevation.”
Why You Should Claim?
With downtime now setting in and enduring temperatures anticipated to continue, eligible homes are encouraged to check their eligibility and claim the £25 Cold Weather Payment.
It may be a small quantum, but it can give a welcome boost to help cover rising heating bills this downtime.
