The DWP has issued guidance on how to claim this year’s Winter Fuel Payment
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 being sent out from this month informing them of the exact amount they can expect.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has provided guidance stating that these letters will be dispatched over October and November. People who may need to claim this year’s payment can do so by post now, 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, reports the Daily Record.
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.
Check if you need to claim
The DWP stated that most eligible people will receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically during the qualifying week of September 15-21, 2025.
No claim is required if you receive 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
Making your claim
Winter Fuel Payment claims can be submitted by:
- post – now
- phone – from October 13, 2025
The deadline to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is March 31, 2026. Complete guidance for postal and telephone claims is available on GOV.UK here.
Winter Fuel Payment eligibility criteria
Winter Fuel Payment is available if you were born before September 22, 1959 and reside in England or Wales.
Circumstances that exclude eligibility.
You cannot receive the payment 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
Care home residents
Care home residents may qualify for Winter Fuel Payment, but eligibility is excluded if both conditions below are met:
- 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
Payment notifications
DWP guidance states: “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.”
Be vigilant against fraudsters who may attempt to deceive you with text messages containing links for claims. These are not genuine DWP communications and should be deleted immediately.
For legitimate claim requirements, consult the official guidance on GOV.UK here. The sum you receive depends on your date of birth and personal situation during the period from 15 to 21 September 2025.
This timeframe is known as the ‘qualifying week’. Any funds you receive will not 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 funds will be transferred into the bank account where your benefits are normally deposited.
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 recover your entire Winter Fuel Payment through either PAYE or your Self Assessment tax return.
If you live in a care home
If you qualify you’ll receive 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
The DWP stated that most payments will be processed automatically during November or December.
You should receive correspondence informing 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.”
Complete information on what you’ll require before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre is available on GOV.UK here.