The UK Goverment has changed the criteria for those getting Winter Fuel Payments in 2025 with key facts now confirmed
The UK Government has changed the criteria for those getting Winter Fuel Payments in 2025. Last year, the only people eligible were those in receipt of Pension Credit – making them some of the poorest people in the UK.
Earlier this year Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that an extra nine million pensioners will get the money – which ranges from £100 – £300. The key date for people to remember is 22 September 1959.
If you were born before that date, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. It will be granted to 9 million this year – although some people who earn more than £35,000 will have to pay it back via tax.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a payment towards the cost of heating bills for people living in England and Wales. Households with someone between State Pension age and 79 will receive £200, and households with someone over 80 will receive £300.
Ms Reeves’ decision to reverse her previous cut will cost around £1.25 billion in England and Wales and see means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment save around £450 million.
No pensioner will need to take any action as they will automatically receive the payment this winter, and for those with incomes above the threshold it will be automatically recovered via HMRC. The payment of £200 per household, or £300 per household where there is someone over 80, will be made automatically this winter. Those who are eligible, should get a letter last month or by the end of November saying how much they’ll get.
Eligibility
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before 22 September 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
- 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 get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. 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 23 June 2025 or earlier
How much you’ll get
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.
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 and 21 September 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’.
Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.
If your income is over £35,000
HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back by either:
- changing your tax code for the 2026 to 2027 tax year
- adding the amount to your 2025 to 2026 Self Assessment tax return
If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment
You’ll get either:
- £200 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
- £300 if you were born before 22 September 1945
If you live with someone else who’s 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’ll get a payment of:
- £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
- £100 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 but the person you live with was born before 22 September 1945
- £200 if you were born before 22 September 1945 but the person you live with was born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
- £150 if you and the person you live with were born before 22 September 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 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
- £300 if one or both of you were born before 22 September 1945
You’ll 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’ll get a payment of either:
- £200 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
- £300 if you were born before 22 September 1945
If you live in a care home
If you’re eligible you’ll get either:
- £100 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
- £150 if you were born before 22 September 1945
When you’ll get paid
Most payments are 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
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.
Reinstating the payment earlier this year Ms Reeves said: “Targeting Winter Fuel Payments was a tough decision, but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government. It is also right that we continue to means-test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest.
“But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. This will mean over three quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.”
Pensioners above the £35,000 threshold will have the full amount of the Winter Fuel Payment they received automatically collected via PAYE, or via their Self-Assessment return. No one will need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action.
If you want to opt out of getting the Winter Fuel Payment
The deadline for opting out of the Winter Fuel Payment for 2025 to 2026 has passed.
If your income is over £35,000 and you did not opt out, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You cannot return it yourself. You can check how HMRC will take it back.
You can opt out of getting the Winter Fuel Payment for 2026 to 2027 onwards from 1 April 2026.