The Department for Work and Pensions has refreshed its guidance and has announced that everyone is eligible to receive the winter fuel payment but advised that people earning more than certain amounts would have it recovered through taxation
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that everyone born before a certain date will qualify for the winter fuel payment this year. Officials have updated the Gov.uk website with initial details following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement that nine million people who missed out on the £200-300 benefit last winter will receive it in 2025.
Those with incomes exceeding £35,000 will also get the payment, although it will later be clawed back through the tax system. Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that the decision to reinstate most winter fuel payments was not a response to political backlash over the policy.
The winter fuel payment provides between £200 and £300 depending on personal circumstances. To qualify, people must be of a certain age and earn £35,000 or less in taxable income. It will start being paid automatically into accounts from tomorrow (November 1)
The DWP has announced that the winter fuel payment for 2025 to 2026 will be made to everyone in England and Wales born before 22 September 22, 1959. Those who are eligible will receive a letter in October or November informing them of the amount of Winter Fuel Payment they will receive.
Following the announcement, the DWP has updated its guidance and clarified who will be entitled to the payment. DWP officials said that only people born before a specific date would receive the money.
They stated: “The Winter Fuel Payment for 2025 to 2026 will be made to everyone in England and Wales born before 22 September 1959, unless you choose not to get it. You could get either £200 or £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter.
“You do not need to do anything – payments will be made automatically.”
Officials have confirmed that everyone will receive the payment, but warned that those earning above a certain threshold would see it reclaimed through HMRC. However, they did not provide specific details on how this process would work.
They stated: ” If your income is over £35,000, your Winter Fuel Payment will be recovered later through HMRC. Details of the 2025 to 2026 payment will be available by the end of June 2025.”
Those who are eligible should get a letter in October or November informing them of the amount of Winter Fuel Payment they will receive. However, there are five groups of people who will not be eligible, even if they were born here and meet the cash and age criteria.
People will not be eligible if they:
- 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
- live in a care home
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 June 23, 2025, or earlier
If your income is over £35,000
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
BBC Moneybox expert Paul Lewis previously commented: “The £35,000 income limit for keeping the winter fuel payment will be frozen Ministers confirm, leading to more pensioners repaying the money year by year it will join frozen bereavement payments, capital limits, child benefit limits, and tax thresholds.”
Pensioners are being warned to watch out for winter fuel payment scams after a spike in referrals ahead of the money reaching people’s bank accounts from next month. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging people not to engage with scam messages.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data revealed a 153% rise in scam referrals in the final week of September, compared with the previous week.
Fraudsters will send messages purporting to be from government officials processing winter fuel payment applications. The scam communications had started to drop off after a peak in June – but are on the increase again ahead of payments being made next month.
But the Government said that winter fuel payments are made automatically, and it will never ask for bank details by text. Anyone who receives a text message inviting them to apply for a payment should not engage with it and instead forward it to 7726, the Government said.
