The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is cautioning individuals to stay vigilant against fraudulent messages related to the Winter Fuel Payment. Winter Fuel Payments provide £200 for qualifying households or £300 for eligible households with a member over 80 years old. These payments are typically made in November and December to pensioners born before September 22, 1959.
If your income exceeds £35,000, you will still receive the payment but will need to repay it through the tax system. Opting out of receiving the payment is possible through the official GOV.UK website or by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre via post or phone. The deadline for opting out is September 15, 2025.
The Winter Fuel Payment eligibility is assessed per person. For instance, if one individual earns £30,000 annually and their partner earns £40,000, one person will retain their share of the payment while the other will repay it.
If you are receiving specific benefits during the qualifying week, which for this year is September 15 to 21, 2025, you will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment. If you do not receive these benefits, you must make a claim if you have never received the payment before or if you have deferred your state pension since your last payment.
To claim, applications can be submitted by post starting September 15 or by phone from October 15. Eligibility is determined by your age at the end of the qualifying week. Certain circumstances, such as being in hospital for the entire qualifying week, being in prison, or residing in a care home under specific conditions, may affect eligibility.
In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been substituted with a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.