More than £130 million distributed for winter energy bill assistance this season.

• More than five million £25 Cold Weather Payments have been issued to households in England and Wales.
• Nearly two million payments have been made to pensioners, with over three million to working-age households.
• Cold Weather Payments are deposited directly into recipients’ bank accounts from November through March.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) anticipates that over £130 million has been disbursed from November to the end of March, with pensioners receiving over £40 million through Pension Credit.

DWP’s Cold Weather Payments are an automatic bank boost of £25, activated for eligible households when the average temperature is recorded as, or is forecasted to reach, zero degrees Celsius or lower for seven consecutive days at the weather station connected to an eligible person’s postcode.

Approximately 80% of this winter’s payments—around four million—were activated in December.

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott stated:

Cold Weather Payments are essential for supporting people during winter’s cold spells.

Though the colder months are now behind us, we will continue our extensive support for households nationwide.

This government is dedicated to assisting the most vulnerable in our society. We are implementing the largest State Pension increase ever and raising benefits by over 10 percent, while our Energy Price Guarantee will keep energy bills manageable.

From 25 April to 17 May, millions of UK households will receive £301 directly from the DWP. This is the first of three payments totaling up to £900 for those eligible and receiving means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, in 2023/24. This follows the £650 Cost of Living Payment distributed to over eight million individuals in 2022. Additional payments of £150 for eligible disabled individuals and £300 for pensioners are also scheduled later this year, allowing the most vulnerable to receive up to £1,350 in direct payments.

Further Information

1. Pensioners receiving Pension Credit.

2. Individuals unable to work, receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance with a work-related activity or support component.

3. Individuals receiving Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance in the assessment phase, or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, who have a pensioner or disability premium, or receive the additional element paid with Child Tax Credit for having a disabled child or a child under five, also qualify for payments.

4. Individuals receiving Universal Credit whose partner is not employed or self-employed, and either have a health condition or disability with limited work capability (with or without work-related activity), or have a child under five living with them.

5. Individuals receiving Universal Credit that includes a disabled child amount, regardless of employment status.

6. Individuals receiving a Support for Mortgage Interest Loan are usually eligible as well.

For media inquiries regarding this press release – 0115 965 8781

Follow DWP on: