Here’s what you need to know about the payment
Certain pensioners will be getting a cash payment of up to £300 this winter. The money, known as the Winter Fuel Payment, is provided to help cover the cost of heating bills.
Previously, this money was awarded to all people of State Pension age regardless of income. But changes made by the Labour administration mean that now only pensioners with a taxable income below £35,000 a year qualify.
If you have an income above £35,000 a year you will receive the payment but it will be taken back by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in taxes. You’ll get either £200 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959, or £300 if you were born before 22 September 1945.
According to GOV.UK , “most people” get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible. If you’re eligible, you’ll get a letter in October or November saying how much you’ll get.
Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2025. You will automatically qualify for payments – meaning you do not need to claim – if you are of State Pension age and 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
READ MORE: Brazen students make £140k in late train refund scam after ‘identifying weakness’
If you do not get any of these, you need to claim if either of the following apply:
- You’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before
- You’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment
These rules apply to people in England and Wales. If you live in Northern Ireland you might be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment from the Northern Ireland Executive.
Eligibility rules will be the same as for England and Wales. If you live in Scotland you cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment. You might be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating payment.
How to claim
You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:
- Post – from 15 September 2025
- Phone – from 13 October 2025
The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is 31 March 2026. To claim by post you must fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form and send it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre at Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
To claim by phone you can call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160. This service is open from Monday to Friday, between 8am and 6pm.
Before you call, you will need to know:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your bank or building society details
- The date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate)
You’ll also need to say whether during the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025 you were:
- In hospital getting free in-patient treatment
- In a residential care home or Ilford Park Resettlement Home
- In prison
For more information on how to claim, visit the Government website here.