DWP sets dates for Winter Fuel Payment claims

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that people over the State Pension age who need to apply for this year's Winter Fuel Payment can do so via post from 15 September and by phone from 15 October.

The UK Government recently revealed that Winter Fuel Payments will be automatically distributed to approximately nine million people in England and Wales. A separate payment will be made to pensioners in Scotland.

Elderly people born before 22 September, 1959 will receive between £100 - £300 during November and December. However, they will be notified by letter beforehand detailing the exact amount they should anticipate.

Online guidance from the UK Government confirms there are two specific groups of people who may need to claim the Winter Fuel Payment. It is crucial to note that this can only be done either by post or over the phone.

If you receive a text or an email instructing you to claim by clicking on a link or dialling a number, it is fraudulent. The DWP has already issued warnings about these counterfeit messages on social media, urging pensioners to report them, reports the Daily Record.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has indicated that most eligible people will receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically during the qualifying week of September 15 - 21, 2025.

Check if you need to claim

DWP said most people will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible during the qualifying week, which is 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 - from September 15, 2025
• phone - from October 13, 2025

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 can 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
• 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, 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

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."

It's important to be aware that scammers may try and trick you into making a claim by text, prompting you to click on a link. This is not an official DWP message and should be deleted. If you think you need to claim, follow the guidance on GOV.UK here.

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.

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

When you will get paid

DWP said most payments will be 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

DWP added: "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."

Opting out of Winter Fuel Payment

You can choose to opt out of getting all future Winter Fuel Payments. To opt out you need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before September 15, 2025.

Full details on what you will need before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre can be found on GOV.UK here.