State pensioners born before a certain date can get an instant £100 boost to their winter fuel payments.

Winter fuel payment criteria have been changed twice in two years, with a switch to Pension Credit proving wildly unpopular before the system was changed once again for this current winter.

A decision to make winter fuel payments means tested and tied to Pension Credit eligibility meant that the £200 or £300 payments were only available to those on a very low income, about £11,000, which proved very controversial.

For this past winter, the system was changed again and meant that all state pensioners would once again receive the money on a universal basis, with only those earning a much more generous £35,000 or more being made to give it back.

Those who were of state pension age but aged under 80, so born on or before September 21, 1959, in the recent round of payments, received a £200 payment, whereas those aged over 80 – so born on September 21, 1944 or earlier – qualified for an instant £100 increase, giving them a £300 payment instead.

The amount you get is based on when you were born and what your circumstances were between September 15 and 21, 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’.

This means that if you are now aged over 80 and qualify, your Winter Fuel Payment will be increased from £200 to £300.

Most people who qualify will get a letter telling you how much you’ll get and which bank account this will be paid into – which is usually the same as your Pension Credit or other benefits.

Age UK said: “If you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment should go to the main claimant of the benefit automatically.

“If you’ve never received a winter fuel payment before, or if you claim Universal Credit, you might need to make a claim. And if you receive Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, you must make a claim.

“You should receive your payment between mid-November and Christmas. Call the winter fuel payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 if you have any enquiries or you don’t receive your payment.”