Winter bills 2026: what financial support can you actually get?

As colder weather hits in the winter months, it’s time to put on the heating. But with energy bills soaring and cost-of-living pressures putting more strain on household finances, you may be worried about how to afford it.

Find out what support is available and how you can apply for it. 

 

What winter bill support is available?

Find missing cash - quick benefits check

It’s worth completing a benefits check even if you’ve never claimed before or only expect to receive a small amount.

This is because entitlement to benefits such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit can unlock other cost-of-living support. Depending on your circumstances, this could include the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments and help from your council.

You can use the free MoneyHelper benefits calculator or the Turn2us benefits calculator.

Receiving the State Pension doesn’t automatically mean you qualify for Pension Credit. Equally, having some savings or owning your home doesn’t necessarily rule you out, so it’s worth checking rather than assuming you won’t qualify.

Can you get the Winter Fuel Payment?

The Winter Fuel Payment is worth between £100 and £300 each winter. To qualify for this year’s payment, you need to be born on or before 27 June 1960 and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. 

The amount depends on factors including your age, who you live with and whether either of you receives certain benefits.

Most eligible people receive the payment automatically. This usually includes people receiving the State Pension, Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit.

You should receive a letter in October or November telling you how much you’ll get. Payments are expected to be made in November or December 2026.

You might need to make a claim if you:

• Don’t receive the State Pension or another benefit that triggers an automatic payment

• Have never received a Winter Fuel Payment before

• Deferred your State Pension after previously receiving the payment

If your annual income is over £35,000, then HMRC will recover the payment via your tax code or self-assessment tax return. 

If you need to claim, you have until 21 September to apply. You can check the full Winter Fuel Payment eligibility and payment rules on GOV.UK.

People living in Scotland don’t receive the UK Winter Fuel Payment. Instead, they may get Scotland’s Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

For winter 2026/27, this is worth between £105.55 and £316.70. Most eligible people should receive it automatically, with letters due to be sent from November 2026.

As with the Winter Fuel Payment, people with an individual income over £35,000 normally have to repay it through HMRC.

Can you get the £150 Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill.

It isn’t paid into your bank account. Your energy supplier applies the discount directly to your electricity account. If the same company supplies your gas and electricity, you may be able to ask it to put the discount on your gas account instead.

The 2026/27 scheme is currently closed and is expected to reopen in October 2026. You’ll be able to check if you’re eligible once it reopens, but usually you need to have met the below criteria on 23 August 2026: 

• Your electricity supplier participated in the scheme

• You or your partner received a qualifying means-tested benefit

• You or your partner was named on the electricity bill

The qualifying benefits are:

• Universal Credit

• Housing Benefit

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Pension Credit

Discounts are usually applied from October until March. 

Prepayment customers can still qualify. Your supplier may provide the discount as a top-up voucher, so make sure it has your correct contact details.

Vouchers can expire. If you receive one, check the deadline and add it to your meter promptly.

Visit the Warm Home Discount page on GOV.UK for more information.

Can you get a Cold Weather Payment?

Cold Weather Payments provide extra help when temperatures in your local area remain particularly low.

You get £25 for each seven-day period when the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below.

Payments are made automatically if you qualify. You don’t have to monitor the weather or submit a claim.

You may qualify if you receive:

• Pension Credit

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Universal Credit

• Support for Mortgage Interest

Receiving one of these doesn’t always guarantee a payment. Additional conditions can apply, particularly for Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance and Support for Mortgage Interest. These may relate to work status, disability, health conditions or having a young child.

Check the full Cold Weather Payment eligibility rules if you’re unsure.

The scheme normally operates between 1 November and 31 March, but check the Cold Weather Payment page for confirmation before winter.

In Northern Ireland, the 2026/27 scheme is confirmed to run from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. NI Direct has more information about Cold Weather Payments.

Scotland has replaced Cold Weather Payments with an annual Winter Heating Payment. The payment is £62 for winter 2026/27 and isn’t linked to the temperature in your area. Eligible households receive one payment regardless of how cold the winter becomes.

How to get free cash from your council

If you need extra help with money towards bills, food costs or other essential household items, it’s worth checking to see if you can get money or vouchers from your local council under the Crisis and Resilience Fund. 

It was previously called the Household Support Fund, and the new scheme runs until 31 March 2029 and helps support households from falling into financial crisis. 

The amount of help you can get varies based on where you live and your income or financial situation. 

Support could be provided as cash, a voucher, a direct bill payment or practical help. Some councils accept direct applications, while others make awards following a referral from a support organisation.

You don’t necessarily have to receive benefits, but your council may look at your income, savings, expenses and the reason you need help.

Check your council’s website for “Crisis and Resilience Fund”, “Household Support Fund” and “cost of living support”. Some council information may still use the former Household Support Fund name during the transition.

You can find your local council on GOV.UK. The government has also published guidance explaining how the Crisis and Resilience Fund works.

The fund only applies in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own crisis and local welfare support arrangements.

Get extra support from your energy firm

If you’re struggling, then the first thing you should do is speak to your energy firm. Many suppliers have pots of cash to help out customers who are in debt or struggling to pay bills. 

You don’t need to wait until you’ve missed a payment before asking for help. Contacting your supplier, council or a free debt-advice organisation early usually gives you more options.

It’s also worth checking if you’re eligible to join the Priority Services Register. 

This free service can provide additional support for people who are disabled, have a health condition, are pregnant, have young children or have reached State Pension age. You can check the Priority Services Register criteria through Ofgem.

_{All information checked and correct at time of writing on 7 September 2026.}

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