An imminent deadline is approaching for individuals who have not yet received their Winter Fuel Payment.
The Winter Fuel Payment, which can amount to £300, is disbursed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to individuals above the state pension age. Those with an annual income exceeding £35,000 are required to reimburse the payment through the tax system.
While most recipients typically receive their Winter Fuel Payment in November or December, if you have not received yours by January 28, 2026, you are advised to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
To reach the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, you can either call the helpline at 0800 731 0160 or send a letter by mail. For Relay UK services, dial 18001 followed by 0800 731 0160. The postal address is: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
On GOV.UK, it is mentioned that payments are usually processed automatically in November or December. If you have not received a notification letter or the payment by January 28, 2026, do not hesitate to get in touch with the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Winter Fuel Payments are being distributed to individuals born before September 22, 1959, who were automatically issued payments if they claimed specific benefits during the qualifying week of September 15 to 21, 2025.
If you did not claim any of the specified benefits, you must make a claim to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by post or phone before March 31, 2026. Exclusions apply if you were hospitalized for free treatment during the entire qualifying week and the preceding year, or if you were incarcerated during the qualifying week.
Additionally, eligibility criteria exclude individuals who resided in a care facility continuously from June 23, 2025, or earlier, and received certain benefits like Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been substituted with a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, ranging from £101.70 to £305.10.