Weather Payments provide eligible households with £25 each time a qualifying cold spell is recorded in their area. A cold spell is defined as the average temperature reaching zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
There is no cap on how many times the payment can be issued during winter. If freezing conditions persist or return later in the season, households can receive multiple payments. In early January 2026, some areas qualified twice within just over a week, meaning certain households have already received £50.
