DWP confirms everyone who qualifies for 2025 Winter Fuel Payment up to £300

Millions of people are now confirmed to be eligible for a payment of up to £300 to help pay winter bills. The Department of Work and Pensions has now confirmed everyone who will qualify for Winter Fuel Payment in 2025/26.

The allowance will be paid to people born before September 22, 1959 subject to certain conditions. While most pensioners will get it some will miss out depending on their income and where they were living last week.

For one of the key rules affecting the decision on who qualifies depends on a person's circumstances during a "qualifying week". This year's qualifying week ran from September 15 and ended on Saturday, September 21.

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In 2024 the Labour government changed the rules over who was eligible for the benefit, leaving millions of pensioners missing out. Rather than paying all pensioners it only gave it to those on certain means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit.

This left just 1.5 million people qualifying and around 7.5 million losing out. But following a furious outcry from pensioners' organisations and other groups claiming the move had hit some of the poorest people, the government reinstated the help for most senior citizens once again.

This year, all pensioners with incomes up to £35,000 will now get it, increasing the number of people eligible to nine million. However, some people will still not qualify - even if their income falls below this amount.

Those with incomes above £35,000 will still receive the payment but must repay it, unless they previously have opted out from receiving it. Also those who were in hospital or a care home during last week's "qualifying week" will miss. People who live outside England or Wales will also be excluded.

Who qualifies for the 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payment

The DWP says: "If you were born before September 22, 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."

Those living in Northern Ireland may qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment from the Northern Ireland Executive. Eligibility rules will be the same as for England and Wales.

People living in Scotland cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment. However, they might be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating payment.

If you live in a care home you can get Winter Fuel Payment. However you will not be eligible if both of the following apply:

• 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 entire year from June 23, 2025, or earlier

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)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Death Benefit

Who is not eligible

You will not qualify for the payment 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 September 15 to 21, 2025
• People with an annual income of over £35,000

Those with an income over £35,000

If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back. You can opt out of getting the Winter Fuel Payment if you do not want to receive it. HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back by either:

• changing your tax code for the 2026 to 2027 tax year
• adding the amount to your 2025 to 2026 Self Assessment tax return

You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back.

How can I find out if I will get it?

Those who qualify will get a letter in October or November. This will explain how much you will get.

If you do not get a letter but think you should qualify, you should check if you need to make a claim. You will need to claim if you do not get one of the qualifying benefits listed above and:

• you’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before
• you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment

How much will I get?

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

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’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

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

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support

If you do not get any of the benefits

You’ll 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 get 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 get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim)

You’ll get 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 you live in a care home if you’re eligible you’ll get either:

• £100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £150 if you were born before September 22, 1945

Will my benefits be affected?

Any payment, no matter the amount, will not affect your other benefits.

When will I be paid?

Most people who qualify will be paid in November or December 2025.

How to claim

Most people will get the payment automatically however if you need to claim you can do this by:

• post - from September 15, 2025
• phone - from October 13, 2025

The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is March 31, 2026.

Claim by post

Fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form and send it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 1LR

Claim by phone

Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to claim by phone:

• Telephone: 0800 731 0160
• Textphone: contact Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 731 0160
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Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pmYou might be charged for the call. Find out about call charges.