The DWP will send important letters to millions of pensioners in the coming weeks as the Government prepares to start issuing Winter Fuel Payments
04:00, 24 Sep 2025Updated 07:07, 24 Sep 2025
The letters will start being sent out in October(Image: GETTY)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is poised to dispatch crucial letters to millions of pensioners in the coming weeks as the Government rolls out Winter Fuel Payments. A whopping nine million pensioners across England and Wales are set to receive up to £300 this winter as financial aid.
You’ll discover in October whether you’re set to receive the Winter Fuel Payment when you receive a letter detailing how much and when your payment will arrive. To qualify for these payments, you must have been born on or before 21 September 1959.
The amount of Winter Fuel Payment you receive depends on your circumstances during the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September.
Energy bills can become unmanageable for some households in the winter season(Image: GETTY)
Following a government U-turn announced on 11 June, nine million pensioners in England and Wales will be receiving the Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP this winter. This change means that eligible pensioners – those with an income of or below £35,000 – will receive either £200 or £300 this winter.
Most pensioners will automatically receive the financial assistance to keep their homes cosy over the winter months. Most payments are made automatically in November or December according to the MEN.
But ahead of that, in October eligible households should get a letter detailing:
how much you’ll getwhich bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits
If you do not receive a letter or the money has not been deposited into your account by 28 January 2026, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible. You do not need to apply for the payment if you get any of the following:
State PensionPension CreditUniversal CreditAttendance AllowancePersonal Independence Payment (PIP)Carer’s AllowanceDisability Living Allowance (DLA)Income Supportincome-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)awards from the War Pensions SchemeIndustrial Injuries Disablement BenefitIncapacity BenefitIndustrial Death Benefit
Winter Fuel Payments can help cover the rise in energy costs during the cold season(Image: GETTY)
You only need to fill in an application form if the follow apply:
you have been asked to by the DPWyou do not get any DWP benefits or a DWP pension but you have reached State Pension age and want to claim the Winter Fuel Payment
From 13 October, you can also claim a Winter Fuel payment by phone. For additional information from the Department for Work and Pensions, click here.