The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that those over the State Pension age can apply for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment by post from September 15 and via telephone from October 15. The UK Government recently announced that roughly nine million individuals in Wales and England will automatically receive Winter Fuel Payments, with a separate payment being issued to Scottish pensioners.

Those born before September 22, 1959 will receive between £100 – £300 during November and December, with a letter sent beforehand detailing the exact amount they can expect. According to UK Government online guidance, there are two specific groups of people who may need to claim Winter Fuel Payment, but it’s crucial to note that this can only be done by post or over the phone.

Scam warning

If you receive a text or an email instructing you to claim by clicking on a link or calling a number, it is a scam – DWP has already issued warnings on social media about these fraudulent messages, urging pensioners to report them, Teesside Live said. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here

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Check if you need to claim

The DWP confirmed that most eligible people will receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically during the qualifying week of September 15 to 21, 2025.

You do not need to claim if you get any of the following:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

awards from the War Pensions Scheme

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

However, you must make a claim if neither of these circumstances apply to you:

you’ve not had the Winter Fuel Payment before

you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment

How to make a claim

Winter Fuel Payment claims can be submitted by:

post- from September 15, 2025

phone- from October 13, 2025

The closing date for winter 2025 to 2026 applications is March 31, 2026.

Who qualifies for Winter Fuel Payments?

Winter Fuel Payments are available to those born before September 22, 1959 who reside in England or Wales.

When you cannot qualify.

You will be ineligible if you:

live outside England and Wales

were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of September 15 to 21, 2025 and the year before that

need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds

were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025

Care home residents

Winter Fuel Payment remains available for care home residents, but you cannot qualify if both conditions below are met:

you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

you lived in a care home for the whole time from 23 June 2025 or earlier

Payment details

DWP guidance states: “You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible.

“If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.”

Be warned that scammers may try to trick you with text messages asking for claims through dodgy links. These are not legitimate DWP messages and should be deleted straight away.

If you think making a claim is required, check the official guidance on GOV.UK here. The amount you get depends on your date of birth and circumstances during September 15 to 21, 2025.

This period is known as the ‘qualifying week’. Any funds you receive will not impact your other benefits.

If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

You will get either:

£200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£300 if you were born before September 22, 1945

If you live with someone else who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.

Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you do not get any of the benefits

You will get a payment of:

£100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 but the person you live with was born before September 22, 1945

£200 if you were born before September 22, 1945 but the person you live with was born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£150 if you and the person you live with were born before September 22, 1945

If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits

One of you will receive a payment of either:

£200 if both of you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£300 if one or both of you were born before September 22, 1945

If you receive any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim)

You will receive a payment of either:

£200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959

£300 if you were born before September 22, 1945

If your income exceeds £35,000

HMRC will reclaim your entire Winter Fuel Payment through either PAYE or your Self Assessment tax return.

When you will receive payment

The DWP confirmed that most payments will be processed automatically in November or December. You should receive correspondence informing you:

which bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits

The DWP added: “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.”

Opting out of Winter Fuel Payment

You can decide to withdraw from receiving all future Winter Fuel Payments. To withdraw from receiving Winter Fuel payments, you need to either:

complete the opt out form on or before September 14, 2025

call the helpline before 6pm on September 12, 2025