Help with heating cost as temperatures drop

2 mins read

Thursday 8 January 2026

With more heavy snow expected today across the UK, many of us will be relying on central heating more than usual to get through the colder days.

With energy costs still high, this puts even more pressure on families with disabled children facing higher than average bills.

Below we explain what help you might be entitled to.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Under this annual scheme, you can receive a rebate worth up to £150. This does not come to you. Instead, it is deducted from your winter fuel bill. The scheme applies in England and Wales, and it operates in Scotland but differently. It doesn’t run in Northern Ireland.

In England and Wales, you don’t have to apply if you are eligible. Instead, you should receive a letter from your energy supplier in early January and receive the discount by end of March 2026. If you think you are eligible but don’t receive a letter, contact the scheme using details on the government’s site.

In Scotland, you do need to apply if you think you are eligible. Contact your energy supplier to find out how.

Cold Weather Payments

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays a Cold Weather Payment of £25 to low-income families on certain means-tested benefits when temperatures in your local area fall (or are forecast to) to 0 degrees or below for seven days in a row.

The DWP will make a payment for each seven-day period of sub-zero temperatures between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026.

You can see the full eligibility criteria on our website.

And you can use a postcode checker to see whether the DWP is making payments in your local area online

Cold Weather Payments only apply in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Scotland, households can get a winter heating payment or a Child Winter Heating Payment.

More help with household bills

We have lots of information on our website all about help with energy and other costs. Visits our pages on: