Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment and Fuel Direct

There 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 could get the Warm Home Discount. If so, a £150 annual credit will be paid to your electricity account through your energy provider.

Cold Weather Payment

Cold Weather Payments are made to some households in England and Wales to help pay for extra heating 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).

If you qualify, Cold Weather Payments are paid when the average temperature where you live is recorded as (or forecast to be) 0°C or below for seven days in a row. 

You'll get £25 for each seven-day period with those temperatures between 1 November and 31 March. 

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.

You'll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Pension Credit. If you get other benefits listed above, you might also nee to meet other criteria, for example having a child under five, a disabled child, a disability or pensioner premium.

The gov.uk website has a tool to find out if your area is due to receive the Cold Weather Payment. It's open from 1 November each year. If it is, and you qualify, you’ll be paid it automatically into the same bank account that receives your benefits, within 14 days of the cold spell.

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel payment is a £200-£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 has changed for winter 2024-25. Previously, most people over State Pension age were eligible. 

To qualify this winter, the following must apply:

1. You were born before 23 September 1958
2. You live in England or Wales
3. You receive Pension Credit or other qualifying means-tested benefits. 

The qualifying benefits are:

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

You'll need to have been getting the benefit between 16-22 September 2024.

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

But if you don't get pension credit and the following apply then check whether you should be getting it. You need to be:

• above state pension age
• on a low income (below £218.15 per week if you're single, £332.95 per week if you have a partner, according to DWP).

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

Here's how much Winter Fuel Payment you'll get, if you qualify:

• £200 if you live alone and were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958
• £300 if you live alone and were born before 23 September 1944
• £200 if you live with someone and both of you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958
• £300 if you live with someone and one or both of you were born before 23 September 1944.

If you live with someone else who qualifies, only one of you will get the Winter Fuel Payment.

If you are entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, you should get a letter in October or November saying how much you'll get. Most people are paid in November or December. If you haven't been paid by the end of January, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

You won't be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you:

• Live in Cyprus, France, Greece, Gibraltar, Malta, Portugal or Spain (owing to their warmer climates)
• Live in Scotland (different schemes are available)
• Were in prison for the whole of 16-22 September 2024
• Have been receiving free treatment in hospital for more than a year
• Lived in a care home for the whole time between 24 June to 22 September 2024.

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

Winter Heating Payment

The Winter Heating Payment gives £58.75 this 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 the payment automatically if you qualify.

You can expect to get your payment bewteen December and February. You'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland before it makes the payment.

If you think you're eligible but don't get a payment, send Social Security Scotland a request.

Fuel Direct 

You can pay off debt to organisations, including your energy supplier, directly from your benefits payments if you’re having difficulties keeping up with your bills.

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 take a certain amount from your benefits each time they're paid until you've paid off the debt. 

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 energy.

While you're paying off debt through Fuel Direct, you can have extra money deducted to pay your ongoing bills.

You'll need to contact your energy supplier to set this up. They need your consent. You should agree an amount with them that covers your bills.

You can stop making payments for ongoing bills this way at any time, or change the amount you pay. 

There's other help available if you're struggling to pay your energy bills.

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 insulate your home.

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.