The winter fuel payment provides between £200 -£300 depending on personal circumstances
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that five groups of individuals will not be eligible for the winter fuel payment, despite meeting the primary age criteria. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reinstated the payment for 9 million pensioners this winter.
The winter fuel payment provides between £200 – £300 depending on personal circumstances. To qualify, individuals must be of a certain age and earn £35,000 or less in taxable income.
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 1959.
Those who are eligible receive a letter in October or November informing them of the amount of Winter Fuel Payment they will receive. Winter fuel payment have now started to reach pensioners’ bank accounts, the Government has said, as it warned people to be on their guard against scams.
Nine million pensioners across England and Wales will receive between £100 and £300, with payments being made automatically throughout November and December, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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
The sum pensioners receive will depend on whether they’re part of a couple, their entitlement to additional benefits, and if they reside in a care facility.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) warned people to remain vigilant against fraudsters impersonating government officials or payment providers attempting to deceive individuals into divulging personal details.
With payments now being distributed, pensioners are being advised to stay watchful for these fraudulent messages and remember they’ll never be requested to supply banking information to obtain the payment.
Those receiving text messages inviting applications for payments shouldn’t interact with them, including avoiding clicking links, and should instead forward them to 7726, the Government advised.
Pensions minister Torsten Bell stated: “From today, 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.”
The overwhelming majority of pensioners should witness payments appearing in their accounts by mid-December.
Should any pensioner have queries regarding their eligibility or hasn’t received payment by January 28 2026, they’re urged to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, the Government stated. Pensioners on modest incomes can also seek additional support through pension credit – averaging around £4,300 annually – while those requiring care can apply for attendance allowance, which in some instances can be worth up to £5,740 a year.
The Government had earlier revealed plans to limit eligibility for winter fuel payments, but this was subsequently reversed, with payments reinstated for the vast majority of pensioners who had previously benefited from them.
For more information on winter fuel payment eligibility click here
