The Winter Fuel Payment will be paid to millions of people across the UK this year. You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22, 1959 and live in England or Wales.
The payment will be between £100 and £300 to help with heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they're eligible. However, there are some circumstances under which some people may not be able to receive the DWP payment.
If you're eligible, you'll get a letter in October or November saying how much you'll get and most eligible people will receive payment in November of December 2025. The Department for Work and Pensions has outlined on its website who will not be eligible.
The government department says you won't receive the financial boost if you live outside of England and Wales or were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole week of September 15 to 21, and the year before that.
You will also not be eligible if you need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds or were in prison for the whole of the week of September 15 to 21, 2025.
Those who live in a care home are eligible for Winter Fuel Payment, however, you will not be eligible if you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and you lived in a care home for the whole time from June 23 2025 or earlier.
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between September 15 and 21 2025. This is called the "qualifying week".
Everyone over the State Pension age in England and Wales with an income of, or below, £35,000 a year will now benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment this winter.
Nine million pensioners are set to receive Winter Fuel Payments. Pensioners do not need to take action as they will automatically receive the payment this winter, for those who have incomes above the threshold it will be recovered by HMRC.
No one will need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action.
People born on or before September 21, 1959 will qualify providing their income is £35,000 per year or less. The £35,000 threshold applies to you as an individual and does not include your partner's income. The payment you receive will be recovered by HMRC via PAYE or Self-Assessment if your taxable income is over £35,000.
Payments will be made to the main claimant who is receiving a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit. If there is no means-tested benefit in payment, a shared payment will be made to a couple.
Further advice about the payment on the government website states: "Payments will be better targeted than before 2024-25 when they were previously paid to all pensioners regardless of their income, meaning those on lower and middle incomes will still receive the help they need, ensuring fairness for both pensioners and taxpayers."
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared regular warnings over the past couple of months about scams concerning Winter Fuel Payments.
The latest warning issued by the DWP was on Facebook, it said: "Beware! Scammers could be trying to steal from you by sending messages about the Winter Fuel Payment and opting out. Don't click or tap on any links - check the facts about opting out before the 15 September 2025 deadline. You can find out the full list of people who are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment here.