Winter Fuel Payments are worth up to £300 to eligible households – but a change in the rules means that if you earn over £35,000, then you will have to pay back it back
Millions of pensioners will soon receive letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) explaining the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment this year.
Winter Fuel Payments are worth up to £300 to eligible households – but if you earn over £35,000, then you will have to pay back your Winter Fuel Payment.
This income eligibility is based per person. For example, if you earn over £35,000 a year but your partner earns less than this, then your partner would still keep their Winter Fuel Payment.
Winter Fuel Payments will be sent to every state pensioner household, regardless of their earnings, but if you earn over £35,000, then the money will be reclaimed through the tax system.
This normally means your tax code will be changed through the PAYE system, or if you normally file a self-assessment tax return, it will be clawed back this way.
The Government has previously said no one will need to register for self-assessment unless they already use this service. Alternatively, anyone over the earnings limit can also choose to opt out of receiving the Winter Fuel Payment altogether.
The DWP is writing to all pensioner households from this month, to explain the changes. The DWP said: “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. Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.”
Winter Fuel Payments will be paid in November and December to pensioners who were born before September 22, 1959. How much you get all depends on your circumstances – including your age and if you claim any benefits – during the qualifying week.
The qualifying week changes every year, but this winter it was September 15 to 21, 2025. To receive the full maximum Winter Fuel Payment worth £300, you must have been 80 years old or older during the qualifying period.
Other pensioner households may receive a payment of £200, £150 or £100. You can find a full breakdown of Winter Fuel Payments and who will qualify here.
If you are claiming one of these benefits during the qualifying week, then you will receive your Winter Fuel Payment automatically. The list of benefits that qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment are:
- 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 claim any of these benefit, then you will need to claim your Winter Fuel Payment 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
Labour says approximately nine million pensioners will receive Winter Fuel Payments this year. In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced with a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.