DWP says people with 1 of 14 criteria will get up to £300 winter fuel payment | Personal Finance | Finance
A the summer draws to an end, Brits will be thinking about when it may get cold enough to put the heating on, and if they will be able to afford it. The consideration is most important, of course, for those on lower incomes. The function of the Government’s up to £300 winter fuel payment is to provide help to people born before September 22, 1959 with their bills. But last year, Rachel Reeves slashed the number of people eligible for the cash so that only those on certain means tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, would still receive it.
The measure meant only one and a half million people qualified. However, a vehement backlash to the policy, including reporting by the Express, ensured ministers made a partial U-turn, reinstating the payment it for pensioners with incomes up to £35,000. This made it available to nine million people.
Although, some people who have an income lower than the new threshold still will not be able to apply.
Moreover, people with incomes that are more than £35,000 will still receive the monetary assistance, and will have to pay it back.
This is unless they opt out from receiving it.
Who gets the winter fuel payment?
The DWP says: “If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026.
“This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment‘.”
The Northern Ireland Executive provides winter fuel payments, with the eligibility criteria the same as England and Wales.
Scottish pensioners could be eligible for pension age winter heating payment.
If you live in a care home you can get winter fuel payment, but Brits are not eligible if both of these 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 entire year from June 23, 2025, or earlier
Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible.
You do not need to claim if you are a recipient of any of these:
- 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
Who is not eligible?
You are not entitled to a winter fuel payment if you:
- Live outside England and Wales
- Were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of September 15-21, 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 15-21, 2025
What if my income is over 35,000?
You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take your winter fuel payment back.
You can opt out of getting the benefit if you do not want to receive it, and the Government will take it away either by changing your tax code for the 2026 to 2027 tax year, or adding the amount to your 2025 to 2026 self assessment tax return.
You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back.
When will I know if I will receive the winter fuel payment?
You will receive a letter in October or November, if you are eligible, which will set out how much you will get.
If you do not get a letter, but you think you are entitled to the cash, it is advised that you should check if you need to make a claim.
If you do not get one of the qualifying benefits listed above, you have not got the Winter Fuel Payment before and you have deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment, you would need to make a claim.
How much will you get?
The amount you receive from the Government is based on when you were born and your circumstances between September 15 and 21, 2025.
If you live on your own, or no one you live with is eligible for the winter fuel payment, you will get one of the below payments:
- £200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
- £300 if you were born before September 22, 1945
Your payment could be different if you get one of these 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 above, 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 claim any of the benefits jointly, 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
If you get any of the benefits – but not as part of a joint claim – you’ll 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 you live in a care home if you’re eligible for the payment, 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
Any money you get will not affect your other benefits, and most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2025.
How to claim
Most people will get the payment automatically.
But, if you need to claim, you can do this via post, by filling in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form and sending it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, from September 15, 2025.
The address is
Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LR
You can also claim by phone, from October 13, 2025.
The number is 0800 731 0160. From Monday to Friday, between 8am and 6pm, you might be charged for the call.
For textphone, contact Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 731 0160
A British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service is available if you’re on a computer. Or you can use the service on mobile or tablet.
The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is March 31, 2026.
