Millions of retirees will soon be notified via mail about their qualification for the Winter Fuel Payment this year. The Winter Fuel Payment ranges from £100 to £300 and is distributed to pensioners born before September 22, 1959.
Individuals earning more than £35,000 will need to repay the payment through the tax system unless they choose to opt out. Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment is determined on a per-person basis, so in a couple, one person may qualify while the other may not.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will dispatch letters in October and November to households eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year.
The qualifying period for the Winter Fuel Payment this year is from September 15 to 21, 2025, with the qualifying week changing annually. Individuals aged 80 or above typically qualify for a higher payment. Additionally, a higher payment may be received if someone in the household is receiving benefits.
Most recipients will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment without needing to apply if they already receive specific benefits. However, those who have not received the payment before or have deferred their state pension since the last payment will need to make a claim.
Applications for the Winter Fuel Payment can be submitted by post starting September 15 or by phone from October 15. Certain conditions, such as being in hospital or prison during the qualifying week, or residing in a care home and claiming specific benefits, may make individuals ineligible for the payment.
In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been substituted with a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.