Heavy snow was expected across the UK on 8 January 2026, according to the charity Contact, which said the weather would leave many households relying on central heating more than usual. In a notice published the same day, the charity set out the help with heating costs available to families, including those with disabled children facing higher than average bills.
"With more heavy snow expected today across the UK, many of us will be relying on central heating more than usual"
Under the Warm Home Discount Scheme, Contact says households can receive a rebate worth up to £150, deducted from the winter fuel bill rather than paid directly. The scheme applies in England and Wales, operates differently in Scotland and does not run in Northern Ireland. In England and Wales, eligible households do not have to apply and should receive a letter from their energy supplier in early January, with the discount received by the end of March 2026; those who believe they are eligible but receive no letter are told to contact the scheme. In Scotland, households do need to apply, and Contact advises contacting your energy supplier to find out how.
Cold Weather Payments are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at £25 to low-income families on certain means-tested benefits. Contact says a payment is made when temperatures in the local area fall, or are forecast to fall, to 0 degrees or below for seven days in a row, with a payment for each seven-day period between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026. These payments apply only in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Scotland, Contact says households can get a winter heating payment or a Child Winter Heating Payment.
| Support | Amount | Where it applies | How it is received |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm Home Discount | Up to £150 rebate | England and Wales; Scotland (different process); not Northern Ireland | Deducted from the winter fuel bill; letter from supplier in early January in England and Wales, discount by end of March 20261 |
| Cold Weather Payment | £25 per seven-day period at 0 degrees or below | England, Northern Ireland and Wales | Paid by the DWP for each qualifying period between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 20261 |
| Winter heating payment or Child Winter Heating Payment | Not stated | Scotland | Not stated1 |
Why it matters for households
The notice covers households on the benefits and schemes named above, in the nations where each scheme operates, during the period from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026. Contact says eligible households in England and Wales should receive a letter from their energy supplier in early January and the discount by the end of March 2026, and that anyone who thinks they are eligible but receives no letter should contact the scheme. In Scotland, households need to apply for the Warm Home Discount and are advised to contact their energy supplier to find out how. Contact also points to a DWP postcode checker to see whether payments are being made in a local area. Households preparing for cold weather can use the guide to getting your home ready for cold weather and ice, and the storms and snow hub covers related warnings and disruption.
What happens next
Contact says the Warm Home Discount should reach eligible households in England and Wales by the end of March 2026, and that Cold Weather Payments run for qualifying seven-day periods until 31 March 2026. No further detail on the snow itself, including areas affected or warnings issued, has been reported in the notice.
Sources (1)
- Help with heating costs as temperatures drop, contact.org.uk
Winter Home Preparation
