Winter fuel payments and pension-age heating payments

• Who qualifies
• Exclusions
• Amount of payment
• Claiming and getting paid
• Challenging a decision

A winter fuel payment is a yearly tax-free payment to help people pay for their heating in the winter. Getting the winter fuel payment does not affect any other benefits you may get.

Note: the rules have changed for 2024. It is now required that you (or your partner if you are in a couple) are entitled to a means-tested benefit or tax credit. In Scotland, winter fuel payments are being replaced in winter 2024 by a new Scottish benefit, pension-age winter heating payment. The rules are the same as those described below for winter fuel payments.

Who qualifies

You qualify for a winter fuel payment if:1Reg 2 SFWFP Regs

•you have reached pension age by the end of the ‘qualifying week’. This is the week beginning on the third Monday in September; and
•on any day during the qualifying week, you (or your partner if you are in a couple) are entitled to UC, PC, IS, income-based JSA or income-related ESA, or child tax credit (CTC) or working tax credit of at least £26 for the tax year 2024/25;
•on any day during the qualifying week, you are ordinarily resident in England or Wales (or, Scotland). Note: you may also be entitled if you live in Switzerland or in a European Economic Area (EEA) country, excluding Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Spain; and
•you claim in time (if a claim is required – see below); and
•you are not excluded under the rules below.

 

Reg 2 SFWFP Regs »

Exclusions

You are excluded from entitlement if, during the qualifying week:1Regs 2 and 3 SFWFP Regs

•you are serving a custodial sentence (throughout the week); or
•you have been receiving free inpatient treatment for more than 52 weeks in a hospital or similar institution; or
•you are living in residential care and have been for at least 12 weeks; or
•you are a person subject to immigration control (although there are exceptions).

 

1     Regs 2 and 3 SFWFP Regs »

Amount of payment

The amount of a winter fuel payment is:

•£300, if you reached the age of 80 in or before the qualifying week (ie, you were born before 23 September 1944) or you are in a couple or a polygamous marriage and the other member of that couple or marriage has reached that age; or
•£200, in any other case.

Note that you will not get the extra pensioner cost of living payment given in 2022 and 2023. It stopped in winter 2023.

Claiming and getting paid

Most people get the winter fuel payment automatically. DWP records of your circumstances can be used to show that you are entitled without you having to claim.1Reg 5 SFWFP Regs

Otherwise, you must claim a winter fuel payment by 31 March following the qualifying week.2Reg 4(1)(c) SFWFP Regs To try to ensure you receive your payment before Christmas, submit your claim before the qualifying week. Claim via the winter fuel payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 (Relay UK: dial 18001 then 0800 731 0160) or download a claim form from gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim.

Payments are usually made between mid-November and Christmas.

 

1     Reg 5 SFWFP Regs »

2     Reg 4(1)(c) SFWFP Regs »

Challenging a decision

Decisions can be challenged by a mandatory reconsideration request and appeal. To get a decision, you may have to submit a written claim and request a written decision.