The Department for Work and Pensions has imposed a deadline for state pensioners who are expecting to be paid a Winter Fuel Paymnent.The Department for Work and Pensions has imposed a deadline for state pensioners who are expecting to be paid a Winter Fuel Paymnent.

The Department for Work and Pensions has imposed a deadline for state pensioners who are expecting to be paid a Winter Fuel Paymnent.(Image: )

Thousands of state pensioners face having to check their bank accounts on Wednesday morning. The Department for Work and Pensions has imposed a deadline for state pensioners who are expecting to be paid a Winter Fuel Paymnent.

If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

Typically, you don’t need to claim the £100 or £200 or £300 payout from the DWP. You should have got a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible.

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Most payments are made automatically in November or December. If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 and 21 September 2025.

This is called the ‘qualifying week’. The DWP says most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible.

You do not need to claim if you get any of the following: State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Carer’s Allowance.

And you do not need to claim if you get any of the following: Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or awards from the War Pensions Scheme.

And you do not need to claim if you get any of the following: Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit or Industrial Death Benefit.

If you do not get any of these, you need to claim if either of the following apply: you’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before OR you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment

You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by post phone. The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is 31 March 2026.