Some pensioners may need to claim the annual heating payment before the end of March.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed most of the 9 million pensioner households due the 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payment should have received the lump sum of £100, £200 or £300 before the end of December. People over 66 in Scotland should also have received their Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from Social Security Scotland before the new year.
However, guidance from the DWP explains if pensioners “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” as you may need to claim.
The money will appear in bank accounts – where the State Pension or benefits are usually paid – with the payment reference starting with the National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP.’ Pensioners are urged to double check their bank statements for this reference number before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
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It’s important to be aware only pensioners born before September 22, 1959 with an income at or below £35,000 will receive an automatic Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP.
UK Government online guidance outlines two specific groups of people who may need to claim Winter Fuel Payment, but it’s important to be aware this can only be done by post or over the phone before March 31, 2026.
Check if you need to claim
DWP said most people will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible during qualifying week, which took place between September 15 – 21, 2025.
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
If you do not get any of these, you need to claim if either of the following apply:
- you’ve not had the Winter Fuel Payment before
- you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment
How to claim
You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:
The deadline to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is March 31, 2026. Full details on how to claim by post or over the phone can be found on GOV.UK here.
Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22, 1959 and live in England or Wales.
When you will not be eligible
You will not be eligible if you:
- live outside England and Wales (people in Scotland will receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment)
- were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and the year before that
- need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds
- were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025
If you live in a care home
You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home, 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 whole time from 23 June 2025 or earlier
Payments
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 to 21 September 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’. Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.
It’s important to be aware scammers may try and trick you into making a claim by text, prompting you to click on a link. This is not an official DWP message and should be deleted. If you think you need to claim, follow the guidance on GOV.UK here.
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:
- 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 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 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
The money will be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into.
If you get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim)
You will 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 your income is more than £35,000
HMRC will take back all of your Winter Fuel Payment through either PAYE or your Self Assessment tax return. next year.
If you live in a care home
If you are 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
When you will get paid
DWP said most payments were automatically issued in November and December.
You should get a letter telling you:
- how much you’ll get
- which bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits
Full details on what you will need before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre can be found on GOV.UK here.
