Millions of retirees will soon be notified about their eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment this year. The payments range from £100 to £300 and are designated for pensioners born before September 22, 1959.
Individuals earning over £35,000 will need to repay the Winter Fuel Payment through the tax system unless they choose to opt out. Eligibility is determined per person, so in a couple, one may be eligible while the other is 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 in the upcoming year.
The qualifying week for the Winter Fuel Payment this year is September 15 to 21, 2025, with the eligibility criteria varying annually. Individuals aged 80 or older generally qualify for a higher payment. Additional benefits may be available if someone in the household is receiving benefits.
Automatic Winter Fuel Payment issuance applies to most individuals who do not need to claim it if they receive specific benefits. Otherwise, individuals who have not received the payment before or deferred their state pension since the last payment will need to make a claim.
Claiming for the Winter Fuel Payment can be done by post starting September 15 or by phone from October 15. Certain circumstances, such as being in hospital for the entire qualifying week, may render individuals ineligible for the payment.
In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been substituted with a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
