DWP confirms two groups that need to claim for Winter Fuel Payment | Personal Finance | Finance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the people who need to claim for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment can do so by post or on the phone. Claimants from England and Wales born before September 22, 1959, will automatically be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. All pensioners in Scotland will receive the new ‘Pension Age Winter Heating Payment’, and Northern Ireland will follow the same rules as England and Wales.

Money will be issued automatically to around nine million pensioners this year after the Government reversed a decision to slash the benefit following outrage from the public. Those who still think they may be able to claim could do so by post from September 15 and by phone from October 15. Disbursement of the payments, which are either £200 or £300, is scheduled for November and December. While most pensioners will get the payment automatically, some might need to confirm their eligibility with the DWP.

The cut-off for eligibility is an income of £35,000, and for those with an income higher than that is over that amount then the payment is reclaimed via the tax system at a later date. People may need to check to see if they have any private pensions which take them over the threshold.

Another group who may need to check if they are eligible is those who may need to update their details, for example if they have deferred their state pension when living abroad and now they have moved back. The DWP warns pensioners to look out for unsolicited texts or emails regarding their payments, as these could be scam.

Scammers try to dupe people by sending them a text or an email telling them to claim by clicking on a link or calling a number. The DWP has warned these are fake communications and told pensions not to click on any links or call any number.

A spokesperson for the DWP said: “The winter fuel payment for 2025 to 2026 will be made to everyone in England and Wales born before 22 September 1959, unless you choose not to get it. You could get either £200 or £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter.”

Officials sought to reassure recipients with a clear message: “You do not need to do anything – payments will be made automatically.”

Check if you need to claim

DWP said most people will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible during the qualifying week, which is September 15 – 21, 2025.

You do not need to claim if you get any of the following:

State Pension

Pension Credit

Universal Credit

Attendance Allowance

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Carer’s Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Income Support

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

awards from the War Pensions Scheme

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Incapacity Benefit

Industrial Death Benefit

If you do not get any of these, you need to claim if either of the following apply:

you’ve not had the Winter Fuel Payment before

you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment

How to claim

You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:

Post – from September 15, 2025

Phone – from October 13, 2025

The deadline to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is March 31, 2026. Full details on how to claim by post or over the phone can be found on GOV.UK here.

Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22, 1959 and live in England or Wales.

When you will not be eligible

You will not be eligible if you:

Live outside England and Wales

Were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of September 15-21, 2025 and the year before that

Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds

Were in prison for the whole of the week of September 15-21, 2025.

If you live in a care home

You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home, however, you will not be eligible if both of the following apply:

You get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You lived in a care home for the whole time from June 23, 2025 or earlier

Payments

DWP guidance explains: “You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible.

“If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.”

It’s important to be aware that scammers may try and trick you into making a claim by text, prompting you to click on a link. This is not an official DWP message and should be deleted. If you think you need to claim, follow the guidance on GOV.UK here.

The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between September 15-21, 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’. Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.

If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

You will get either:

£200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£300 if you were born before September 22, 1945

If you live with someone else who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:

Pension Credit

Universal Credit

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Income Support

If you do not get any of the benefits

You will get a payment of:

£100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 but the person you live with was born before September 22, 1945

£200 if you were born before September 22, 1945 but the person you live with was born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£150 if you and the person you live with were born before September 22, 1945

If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits

One of you will get a payment of either:

£200 if both of you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£300 if one or both of you were born before September 22, 1945

The money will be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into.

If you get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim)

You will get a payment of either:

£200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£300 if you were born before September 22, 1945

If your income is more than £35,000

HMRC will take back all of your Winter Fuel Payment through either PAYE or your Self Assessment tax return.

If you live in a care home

If you are eligible you’ll get either:

£100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£150 if you were born before September 22, 1945

When you will get paid

DWP said most payments will be made automatically in November or December.

You should get a letter telling you:

How much you’ll get

Which bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits

DWP added: “If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”

Opting out of Winter Fuel Payment

You can choose to opt out of getting all future Winter Fuel Payments. To opt out you need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before September 15, 2025.

Full details on what you will need before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre can be found on GOV.UK here.