Home › UK Rules › Employment › Benefits › Heating › CWP
Cold Weather Payments 2022/23

Have outside temperatures dropped enough in the UK to trigger a cold winter payment? Check to see if you are due the & CWP (meaning Cold Weather Payment).
DWP Cold Weather Payments continue to the 31st of March every year. Use the Cold Weather Payment postcode checker to see if you qualify and find out when it is due.

CWP Payment 2022

Table of Contents

Important: DWP CWP £25 is not the same as the Winter Fuel Payment 2022 (i.e. a heating allowance between £100 and £300 based on when you were born).

The government grant scheme for 2021/22 has now ended. But you can check if a payment is due in your area for 2022/23.

You can check online using the DWP Cold Weather Payment postcode search facility (see further details below).

How does it work?

If the outside temperature stays at zero degrees Celsius (or below) consecutively for seven (7) days – it triggers the CWP payment 2022.

So, anyone who is already receiving one of the qualifying benefits, or Support for Mortgage Interest, can get the Cold Weather Payment.

The UK Government pays £25 for each 7 day period of extreme cold weather. This year’s scheme runs from the 1st of November 2022 to the 31st of March 2023.

Benefit payments should arrive within 14 days of each severe cold weather period in your area. Like most benefit entitlements, funds go straight into your bank or building society account. Generally, payments from this scheme do not affect your other benefits.

Cold Weather Payment Entitlement

Eligibility for the DWP Cold Weather Payment is subject to certain qualifying conditions. It is the average low temperature that determines who gets the payouts (whether recorded or forecasted).

So, who will get the cold winter payment? In most cases, you will be eligible for Cold Weather Payments 2022/23 if you are already receiving:

Note: DWP 2022 to 2023 Cold Weather Payment scheme starts from the 1st day of November in 2022.

Income Support and Income-based JSA

Do you already get the income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support? If so, you should qualify for the DWP CWP payment providing you also have (any):

  • A child with a disability.
  • One of the Disability Premiums (or pensioner premium).
  • A child less than five (5) years old living with you.
  • Child Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe disability element.

Cold Winter Payment and Pension Credit

In most cases, if you are already getting Pension Credit you should have automatic entitlement for the Cold Weather Payments 2022.

Income-related ESA

Getting income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and being in a work-related activity group or support group, means you should qualify.

You may also get the payment even if you are not in one of the ESA groups, providing you have (any):

  • Severe or enhanced disability premium.
  • Pensioner premium.
  • A child with a disability.
  • A child less than five (5) years old living with you.
  • Child Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe disability element.

CWP and Universal Credit

If you receive Universal Credit you should also get the Cold Weather Payment 2022. As long as you are not employed or self-employed and one of these apply to your situation:

  • You have a child under five (5) living with you.
  • You have a health condition or disability and get a limited capability for work element (with or without a work-related activity element).

Note: You will also be eligible if you have a disabled child element in your claim, no matter whether you are in employment or not.

How to Claim Cold Weather Payment 2022

The Cold Weather Payment calculator makes it simple to claim the payment. People who meet the CWP eligibility criteria do not need to apply. That’s because in general, all cold winter payments 2022 to 2023 are automatic.

Child Under 5 Living With You?

Are you getting Income Support, income-related ESA, or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance? If so, to ensure you get automatic Cold Weather Payments 2022 you must inform Jobcentre Plus if:

  • You have since had a baby.
  • A child under the age of five (5) has come to live with you.

Note: Failing to let the Jobcentre know means you will not get the payments by automatic process.

Not Received Your Cold Weather Payment?

You should inform your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office if you did not get your payment. You can also sign into your Universal Credit account and add a note to your journal.

If You go into Hospital

A stay in hospital may affect your payment. So, you will need to inform your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office. Sign in to your online account to add a note if you get Universal Credit.

You can call the UC hotline number if you do not have an online account (also written on letters you get from Universal Credit).

Universal Credit Helpline
Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
Check UK call charges

Related Help Guides and Information

Cold Weather Payment 2022 Scheme Runs Until 31 March 2023