How to Claim Cold Weather or Winter Heating Payments and Grants to Slash Soaring Energy Bills

With the cold outside, anything that can keep us toasty will do the trick. But rising energy bills are making us sweat for all the wrong reasons. Thankfully, with Cold Weather Payments, discounts, and grants, we can cash in and keep cosy without torching our bank accounts.

Cold Weather & Winter Heating Payments

This winter chill might be miserable, but it could mean free money for us. Every time the temperature in our area drops to zero or below for seven days straight, we could pocket a lovely £25 Cold Weather Payment. We’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.

In Scotland, this is replaced by the £58.75 Winter Heating Payment, a guaranteed annual payment regardless of temperature. Both systems work automatically if you’re eligible, so there’s no need to apply.

The best part? It’s all automatic. If we’re eligible, the cash should land in our accounts faster than Santa sliding down a chimney.

So if it’s snowing outside, let’s check if we’re in for a payday! Check if we can get a Cold Weather Payment on GOV.UK.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

The Warm Home Discount knocks £150 straight off our electricity bill. We won’t get the cash in our hands, but it’s still a welcome break.

Here’s the deal:

• If we’re on Pension Credit Guarantee or have a low income, we could qualify.
• Most big energy suppliers offer this discount – just give them a call!

Details are available on the government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme page.

Grants to clear energy debts

Here’s a juicy tip: many energy suppliers have grants and funds to help us pay off overdue bills.

British Gas, for example, has a support fund for struggling customers, and guess what? We don’t even need to be with them to apply. Talk about Christmas spirit! Other suppliers like E.ON and Octopus have similar schemes – it’s worth checking with whoever keeps our lights on.

Other help on offer

If the heating bills are just too much to bear, don’t forget about Warm Welcome Spaces. These are community hubs offering a warm place to stay, free of charge, where we can find shelter, a hot drink, and even some company.

Many local councils and charities are running these spaces this winter, so it’s worth checking what’s available in our area. And some are dishing out extra help through the Household Support Fund so we don’t want to miss out.

Need a bit more guidance? Citizens Advice can help us navigate all these schemes, benefits, and grants to make sure we’re not missing out.

Why suffer the freeze when there’s cash to be claimed? Winter won’t wait, and neither should we when it comes to claiming these payments!

Image: Sasha Chornyi / Shutterstock

_{This article has been updated 9 December, 2024.}