The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed people over State Pension age who need to claim this year’s Winter Fuel Payment can do so by phone after lines opened on Monday
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that pensioners over the State Pension age can now claim this year’s Winter Fuel Payment by phone, following the opening of lines on Monday (October 13).
Pensioners also have the option to submit a postal claim, with full details available on GOV.UK. Winter Fuel Payments will be automatically issued to approximately nine million people in England and Wales during November and December.
Additionally, at least 880,000 Scottish pensioners will receive up to £305 through a similar, but separate payment from next month – more information about the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment can be found here.
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It’s crucial to note that only pensioners born before September 22, 1959 will be eligible for these payments, either from the DWP or Social Security Scotland. Letters detailing how much money households can expect to receive will be sent out this month.
UK Government online guidance identifies two specific groups of people who may need to claim Winter Fuel Payment, but it’s important to remember that claims can only be made by post or over the phone, reports the Daily Record.
Scam warning
If you receive a text or an email instructing you to claim by clicking on a link or dialling a number, it is a scam – the DWP has already issued warnings on social media about these fraudulent messages, urging pensioners to report them.
It’s crucial for Scotland’s elderly population to know that the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. This follows similar eligibility criteria to DWP, but will be automatically issued by Social Security Scotland from November.
Check if you need to claim
The DWP stated that most people will receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible during the qualifying week, which took place between September 15 to September 21, 2025.
You do not need to claim 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 receive 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
How to claim
You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:
The deadline to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is March 31, 2026. Full details on how to claim by post or over the phone can be found on GOV.UK here.
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Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments
You can receive a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22, 1959 and live in England or Wales.
When you will not be eligible
You will not be eligible if you:
- live outside England and Wales (people in Scotland will receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment)
- were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of September 15 to September 21, 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 September 15 to September 21, 2025
If you live in a care home
You can receive Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home, however, you will not 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 June 23, 2025 or earlier
Payments
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.”
Be vigilant as fraudsters may attempt to deceive you into making a claim via text, urging you to click on a link. This is not an official DWP message and should be discarded. If you believe you need to make a claim, follow the guidance on GOV.UK.
The amount you receive is determined by your birth date and your circumstances between 15 to 21 September 2025, known as the ‘qualifying week’. Any money received will not impact your other benefits.
If you live alone or no one in your household is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you will receive 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 cohabit with someone else who qualifies for the Winter Fuel Payment, your payment may vary if you receive 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 receive any of the benefits, you will receive 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
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If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits, one of you will receive 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 deposited into the bank account where your benefits are typically paid.
If you receive any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim), you will receive 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 exceeds £35,000, HMRC will reclaim all of your Winter Fuel Payment through either PAYE or your Self Assessment tax return. The opt-out window for pensioners in England and Wales closed on September 15.
The opt-out window for Scottish pensioners closed on 10 October – full details can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.
If you reside in a care home and are eligible, 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 confirmed that most payments will be processed automatically during November or December. Recipients should receive correspondence informing them:
- 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
The DWP further stated: “If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 28 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”
Complete information regarding what documentation you’ll require before reaching out to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre is available on GOV.UK here.