Millions of retired individuals will soon be notified via mail about their eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment this year. The Winter Fuel Payment ranges from £100 to £300 and is granted to pensioners born before September 22, 1959.
If your income exceeds £35,000, repayment through the tax system is required unless you choose to opt out. The eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment is determined per individual, so in a couple, one person might qualify while the other does not.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will dispatch letters in October and November to all households entitled to receive the Winter Fuel Payment this year.
The qualifying week for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment is set from September 15 to 21, 2025, with eligibility criteria shifting annually. Individuals aged 80 or above generally qualify for a higher payment. Additionally, a higher amount may be received if someone in the household is receiving benefits. Last year, the Government limited Winter Fuel Payments to individuals claiming means-tested benefits, causing public outcry. However, the rules have been updated to include the new £35,000 income threshold this year.
Most recipients will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment without needing to apply if they already receive certain benefits. Those who do not receive these benefits must claim if it’s their first time receiving the payment or if they deferred their state pension since the last payment.
Applications for the Winter Fuel Payment can be made by post starting from September 15 or by phone from October 15. Exclusions for eligibility include being in hospital for free treatment throughout the qualifying week and the previous year, or being in prison during the qualifying week. Living in a care home since June 23, 2025, and claiming specific benefits like Universal Credit and Pension Credit also disqualify individuals.
In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced with the new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.