Here’s what you need to know about claiming the Winter Fuel Payment.
Winter Fuel Payments may need to be claimed by some people over State Pension age (Image: Getty)
Two categories of pensioners are being urged to apply for a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit valued at up to £300. There’s just over a month remaining to secure Winter Fuel Payments.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently announced that the vast majority of the nine million eligible pensioner households have already received their 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payment instalments of £100, £200 or £300 ahead of the automatic distribution cut-off date of January 28. The majority of Scottish residents aged over 66 ought to have also been issued their Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from Social Security Scotland by now, though disbursements will carry on until the close of February.
As reported by the Daily Record, official Government online information highlights two specific categories who might be required to submit a claim for Winter Fuel Payment, though it’s essential to understand this must be completed via post or phone before March 31, 2026. Only those pensioners who were born prior to September 22, 1959 and whose income sits at or beneath £35,000 ought to have been issued an automatic Winter Fuel Payment by the DWP.
DWP instructions indicate that if pensioners “do not get a letter” or if the “money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre” as submitting a claim might be required.
The funds ought to have landed in bank accounts – where State Pension or other benefits are normally deposited – displaying a payment reference commencing with the National Insurance number and ending with ‘DWP WFP. ‘ Elderly residents are urged to carefully examine their bank statements for this reference code prior to getting in touch with the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help you with heating costs during the colder months (Image: Getty)
Check if you need to claim
DWP said most people would get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible during qualifying week, which took place between September 15 – 21, 2025.
You do not need to claim if 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
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
How to claim
You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:
- Post
- Phone
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.
Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments
You should get 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 15 to 21 September 2025 and the year before that
- Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says 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, 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 23 June 2025 or earlier
Payments
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 to 21 September 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’. Any money you get will not affect 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 money will 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 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 take back all of your Winter Fuel Payment through either PAYE or your Self Assessment tax return. next year.
If you live in a care home
If you are eligible you’ll get either:
- £100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
- £150 if you were born before September 22, 1945
Full details on what you will need before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre can be found on GOV.UK here.
