Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment and Fuel Direct

The are several government schemes that can help you pay your energy bills, particularly in the colder winter months. 

From winter 2024, the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners will only be available to those who receive pension credit or other certain means-tested benefits.

Here, we list the available schemes and how to find out if you qualify for them.

It's also worth finding out if you qualify for the Warm Home Discount, as a £150 annual credit will be paid to your energy account through your energy provider if you’re eligible.

Cold Weather Payment

Cold Weather Payments are made to households in England and Wales that get qualifying benefits. They help pay for extra heating costs when it's very cold.

If you live in Scotland you can't get Cold Weather Payments. But you might be able to get a £50 Winter Heating Payment instead (scroll down to find out more).

To get a Cold Weather Payment, the average temperature where you live must be recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven days in a row. 

If you're eligible, you will get £25 for each seven-day period with those temperatures between 1 November and 31 March. This should be paid into the same bank account that receives your benefits, within 14 days of the cold spell.

You don't need to apply for cold weather payments. But you must tell Jobcentre Plus if you get any of the following:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest.

If you receive any of the aforementioned benefits, it doesn't guarantee you'll get Cold Weather Payments. Only Pension Credit allows you to automatically qualify for it. 

You may need to meet additional criteria, for example having a child under five, a disabled child, a disability or pensioner premium.

The gov.uk website has a tool so you can find out if your area is due to receive the Cold Weather Payment. It's open from 1 November each year. If it is, you’ll be paid it automatically.

Winter Heating Payment

The Winter Heating Payment gives £50 each winter to qualifying households in Scotland to help with the costs of heating.

The eligibility requirements are the same as the Cold Weather Payment in England and Wales.

But it doesn't matter how cold it gets. You'll get £50 each year automatically if you qualify. 

You can expect to get your payment at the end of the winter. You'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland before it makes the payment.

If you think you're eligible but haven't received a payment, use Social Security Scotland's Winter Heating Payment eligibility guidelines.

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel payment is a £100-£300 annual payment to help pay for your gas or electric heating in winter. It's tax-free and also known as the Winter Fuel Allowance. 

The eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment was changed on 29 July 2024, in a speech by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

To qualify, you now need to receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits. These include:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit.

In previous winters most people over State Pension age were eligible.

The amount that those eligible will get this winter depends on your age, and whether you live alone or with someone else. The Chancellor said you'll get:

• £200 for households receiving pension credit
• £300 for households receiving pension credit with someone aged over 80.

If you receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits, you'll still get the Winter Fuel Allowance and you don't need to apply for it. 

If you don't get pension credit and the following apply then check whether you're eligible to access it, as you will then get the Winter Fuel Allowance along with other payments. 

You need to be:

• above state pension age
• on a low income.

If so, find out how to claim pension credit on the government website.

Previously, other reasons that you wouldn't be eligbile for the Winter Fuel Payment included that you:

• Live in Cyprus, France, Greece, Gibraltar, Malta, Portugal or Spain (owing to their warmer climates)
• Were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week
• Lived in care and received certain benefits
• Have been receiving free treatment in hospital for more than a year
• Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds.

If you are entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, you would usually receive it the end of January.

Read more about benefits and allowances for people who are over the state pension age in our guide to Benefits for older people.

Fuel Direct or third-party deductions

You can pay some of your bills, including fuel and water, directly from your benefits payments if you’re having difficulties keeping up with your bills in the current cost of living crisis.

These are sometimes called ‘third-party deductions’. The benefits you can use are:

• Universal Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Pension Credit.

Fuel Direct payments arrange for your current fuel use and an agreed amount of your unpaid bill to be paid to the company you owe each time your benefits are paid. The payments will stop once you've paid back what you owe.

The amount you’ll pay through deductions directly from your benefits depends on how much you’re paying off. For example, if you get Universal Credit, 5% of it would be deducted for gas, electricity and water.

The amount is decided by Jobcentre Plus or your pension centre. Get in touch with Jobcentre Plus to find out more.

Energy Company Obligation

Subsidised energy efficient home improvements are available through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) for those who qualify. These can include insulation or replacement boilers. 

Find out more in our guide to the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

Other energy efficiency schemes

You might be able to get financial help for energy-saving home improvements through schemes that run in your area.

These can cover a range of energy efficiency measures including:

• Loft insulation costs and savings
• Cavity wall insulation
• New boilers and heating controls
• Boiler repairs 
• Window replacement (in Northern Ireland).

An assessor will usually visit your home to determine what's needed. 

To qualify, you'll often need to receive certain benefits and must either own your property or rent it privately. If you're renting, you need the owner's permission to do the work. 

If you're not sure what efficiency rating your home has, check its energy performance certificate. Alternatively, ask your landlord or housing association.

For more information on these schemes, and full eligibility criteria, contact the scheme operator in your part of the UK:

• Gov.uk (UK)
• Home Energy Scotland (Scotland): 0808 808 2282
• Nest (Wales): 0808 808 2244
• nidirect (Northern Ireland): 0300 200 7874

Read more about ways to cut your energy bills and find out how to make your home more energy efficient.

Extra benefits

Depending on your personal and financial situation, you could be eligible for benefits to help you keep up with your bills and household expenses too. Check if you qualify for financial help through the benefits system using the gov.uk website.