Millions of retired individuals will soon be notified about their qualification for the Winter Fuel Payment for the upcoming year. The Winter Fuel Payment ranges from £100 to £300 and is designated for pensioners born before September 22, 1959.
If your income exceeds £35,000, repayment will be required through the tax system unless you choose to opt out. Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment is assessed on a per-person basis. Hence, if you are part of a couple, one person may qualify while the other may not.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will dispatch letters in October and November to all households eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year.
The qualifying period for the Winter Fuel Payment for the current year is September 15 to 21, 2025, which alters annually. Individuals aged 80 or above or those living with an individual claiming benefits typically qualify for a higher payment amount.
Previously accessible to all state pensioners, Winter Fuel Payments were restricted to individuals receiving means-tested benefits last year, causing public outcry. However, this year’s regulations have been revised to include the new £35,000 income threshold.
Most individuals will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment without the need for application, provided they already receive certain benefits. However, those not receiving these benefits should apply if they have not previously received the payment or have deferred their state pension since the last payment.
To apply for the Winter Fuel Payment, eligible individuals can apply by post from September 15 or by phone from October 15. Ineligibility reasons include being hospitalized for the entire qualifying week, being in prison during the qualifying week and the preceding year, or residing in a care home before June 23, 2025, while claiming certain benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been substituted with the new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.