The one-off payment is worth at least £200 and is being paid out to pensioners as part of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme. This cash boost will automatically land in bank accounts later this year
Around nine million pensioners are set to receive a payment of at least £200 as part of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme. With the current cost of living affecting many UK households, this financial support has been designed to help older people cover the cost of heating bills during the colder months.
If you were born before September 22, 1959, you could be entitled between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for this winter. This payment is also known as ‘Winter Fuel Payment’, which is a one-off payment. This cash boost will automatically land in bank accounts later this year, with no need for individuals to claim it.
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Those eligible will receive the money between the months of November and December, ahead of the winter season and Christmas time. Thanks to changes in eligibility rules, millions more pensioners will benefit from this support this year.
This means that many who missed out on the winter allowance in 2024 can anticipate this bonus in the coming year. Labour initially stripped millions of pensioners of this benefit before being compelled to reverse their decision.
Now, approximately 75% of seniors, those earning less than £35,000, will retain this cash boost. Those under 80 will receive £200, while those over 80 will be granted £300, reports Birmingham Live.
Winter Fuel Payments typically hit bank accounts in November, ensuring everyone has the funds in time for Christmas. Initially, all pensioners will receive the cash. As per the latest reports, around 11.6 million people received a Winter Fuel Payment in 2023-2024, an increase of 214,000 from the previous year, and numbers grow every year.
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However, it’s important to note that HMRC will reclaim it from those whose incomes exceed the threshold of £35,000. Earlier this year, the Government backtracked on its unpopular decision to alter the winter fuel scheme.
This follows the government’s announcement to cut the Winter Fuel Payment in July 2024, removing the eligibility to millions of pensioners. However, after significant backlash, Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed in May 2025 to easing the cuts, expanding the eligibility to receive the one-off payment.
By doing so, millions of pensioners will be able to receive the extra funds to help cover energy costs and household bills during the upcoming season. This is especially important to those with fixed incomes, offering relief and stability in the current cost-of-living situations.