DWP will begin sending the letters in October
The UK Government has recently announced that Winter Fuel Payments will be automatically issued to approximately nine million people in England and Wales. Those born before 22 September 1959 will receive between £100 – £300 during November and December, with a letter sent beforehand detailing the exact amount they can expect.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has advised that these letters will be dispatched over October and November. From next week – 15 September – those who may need to claim this year’s payment can do so by post, or over the phone from 15 October.
There are two specific groups of people who may need to claim the Winter Fuel Payment, but it’s crucial to note that this can only be done by post or over the phone. Any texts, emails or phone calls inviting you to claim are fraudulent. The DWP has already issued warnings on social media about these counterfeit messages, urging pensioners to report them.
A revised edition of the ‘Easy Read’ Winter Fuel Payment guide has also been released by the DWP, which includes everything you need to know about this year’s payment, including eligibility, payment rates, qualifying periods and payment windows. This can be viewed on GOV.UK, reports the Daily Record.
In Scotland, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced Winter Fuel Payments. Payments ranging from £101.70 to £305.10 will be automatically issued by Social Security Scotland from November.
Check if you need to claim
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stated that most people will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment if they are eligible during the qualifying week, which is 15 – 21 September 2025.
You won’t need to claim if you’re receiving 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’re not receiving any of these, you’ll need to make a 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 your 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 31 March 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’re eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before 22 September 1959 and live in England or Wales.
When you won’t be eligible
You won’t be eligible if you:
- live outside England and Wales
- were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 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 15 to 21 September 2025
If you live in a care home
You can receive the Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home, however, you won’t 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 23 June 2025 or earlier
Payments
The 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 note that scammers may try to 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 sum you receive depends on your date of birth and situation during the period from 15 to 21 September 2025, known as the ‘qualifying week’. Any funds you receive won’t impact 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 of getting Winter Fuel payments, you need to either:
- complete the opt out form on or before 14 September 14, 2025
- call the helpline before 6pm on September 12, 2025
Full details on what you will need before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre can be found on GOV.UK here.