Winter Fuel Payment 2025 | Changes in eligibility

Keeping your home warm in the winter can be expensive so benefits like the Winter Fuel Payment can make all the difference.

The fuel poverty charity NEA estimates that around 4 million UK households are unable to afford sufficient heating, and in January 2023 it reported there were around 4000 excess deaths during the winter months.

If you are an older person and receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for financial support with your heating bills.

Key points

Eligibility change: From 2025, the Winter Fuel Payment is means-tested for pensioners earning £35,000 or less.

Payment amount: Eligible pensioners get £200 – £300, paid automatically in November or December.

Regional updates: Scotland and Northern Ireland have introduced their own means-tested winter heating schemes.

Other support: Help is also available through the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment, and Fuel Direct schemes.

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free lump payment to help you to heat your home in the winter.

The benefit was introduced in 1997 for older people who feel the cold more, are less active and stay indoors more.

How much is the Winter Fuel Payment?

The payment is either £200 or £300, depending on your date of birth and whether or not you live alone.

If you or your partner were born before 23 September 1944, it should be £300.

Payments are being made straight into people’s bank accounts from 13 November up to the end of December.

The payment reference people receive will begin with their National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’, so people can easily identify it.   

Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said: 

“Nine million pensioners across England and Wales will benefit from the Winter Fuel Payment hitting their bank account.

Payments are being made automatically throughout November and December, so don’t worry if yours hasn’t arrived yet. But do remember to stay alert to scam texts, the Government will never ask you to share personal information or click on links to claim your payment.“

Who is eligible under the June 2025 Government announcement?

You may be eligible if:

• You were born on or before 21 September 1959 (this is for the winter of 2025/26, the qualifying birth date changes each year).
• You have an annual income of or below £35,000
• You live in England or Wales

Qualifying Week

Qualifying Week is a particular week of the year when eligibility criteria for Winter Fuel Payment must be met in order for you to qualify. For the winter of 2025/26, Qualifying Week is 15-21 September 2025.

At this time, to qualify, you must:

• Be of State Pension age
• Receive the qualifying benefits
• Live in England or Wales
• Not be in prison
• Not live in a care home. Care home residents can be eligible if they have lived there for less than 13 weeks and did not live there during Qualifying Week.

Government changed eligibility rules after backlash

The Government had announced on 11 September 2024 that the Winter Feel Payment would become a means-tested benefit for people in England and Wales.

After a backlash from Labour MPs, disability campaigners and the general public, the Prime Minister announced on 21 May 2025, an expansion of who would be eligible.

Prime Minister Kier Starmer said: “We want to ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.”

On 9 June 2025, the Government confirmed the payment would now be for pensioners with an annual income of £35,000 or less.

Eligibility criteria no longer includes being in receipt of certain benefits.

This means that nine million people, or over three quarters of people of pension age, will now receive the support.

You don’t need to do anything to get the payment. You will automatically receive the full amount. The HMRC will then take back none, some or all of it once they have assessed who is eligible.

This is similar to how Child Benefit works. You can opt out altogether.

How do I claim the Winter Fuel Payment 2025?

You should get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically. The payments began appearing in bank accounts on 13 November 2025.

Per the June 2025 update, you will get the full amount, with some potentially taken back later depending on your eligibility.

Most people will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment if they qualify, but anyone who does not receive it but believes they should can check whether they can submit a claim.

If anyone has questions on whether they are eligible or has not received a payment by 28 January 2026, they should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160. 

You can opt out of receiving the payment if you wish.

Telephone

Inside the UK: 0800 731 0160
Outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 7280
Relay UK (if you can’t hear or speak): dial 18001 then 0800 731 0160

Email

Complete the Winter Fuel Payment claim form.

Post

Write to:

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LR (or WV98 1ZU if writing from outside the UK)
UK

Look out for scammers

In September 2025 it was reported by the BBC that there has been a scam going round that targets people potentially eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.

The scammers send you a text claiming to be from the Department of Work and Pensions. It says you haven’t claimed the money you’re entitled to. The text has a dodgy link that they want you to click on.

This text is NOT from the Department of Work and Pensions and you should NOT click on the link.

 The DWP has said that anyone who receives a text message inviting them to apply for a payment should not engage with it, including clicking on links. Instead they should forward it to 7726. 

Winter fuel payments in Scotland and Northern Ireland

The Scottish Government has introduced a new benefit called the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP). This is similar to the Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales.

Following the announcement for England and Wales on 11 September 2024, the Scottish Government has had its funding budget cut. So it will no longer be bringing it in as a universal benefit and will make it means-tested.

People of State Pension age who receive Pension Credit will get £200 or £300, depending on their age. Everyone else in Scotland of State Pension age will get £100.

Northern Ireland is also making their Winter Fuel Payment means tested, with details to be confirmed.

What is the Warm Home Discount Scheme?

The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides a £150 discount on winter electricity bills, or gas bills if you use the same supplier.

It’s available to people who receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income with a participating energy supplier.

You may also qualify if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meter, but you’ll need to contact your supplier directly. The scheme opened in October 2025.

If you’re eligible through Pension Credit, you’ll receive a letter between October and December explaining how to apply.

You can contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme on 0800 731 0214 or by writing to 110552 Warm Home Discount Scheme, PO Box 26965, Glasgow, G1 9BW.

What is the Cold Weather Payment?

The Cold Weather Payment gives extra help with heating costs when the temperature in your area stays below 0°C for seven consecutive days between 1 November and 31 March.

You’ll receive £25 for each qualifying 7-day cold spell.

It’s available to people on Pension Credit, or certain other benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support, or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, particularly if you have a child under 5 or a disability.

You don’t need to apply – payments are made automatically to those who qualify.

What is the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme?

It’s available to former employees of the National Coal Board or British Coal Corporation, and their widows or widowers. Eligibility can change if you remarry.

To apply, contact the National Concessionary Fuel Office by phone on 0345 759 0529 / 0370 386 9961. You can also email ncfo@capta.co.uk, or contact them by post – National Concessionary Fuel Office, PO Box 64, Sheffield, S1 1XL.

What is Fuel Direct?

If you are in receipt of certain benefits and are struggling with debt to your energy supplier, you may be able to have your heating bills partially or fully paid for directly from your benefits. This means the benefits you receive in your bank account will be lower each month. As some of the money goes directly to paying off the debt. The deduction will also pay towards your current energy bill.

Eligible benefits include:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

To apply, speak to your nearest Jobcentre Plus, or the Pension Service if you receive Pension Credit.