Rajan Wilcox
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help with heating costs during the colder months. The amount of money you receive is based on your age, income, and circumstances. If you live in a care home and don't receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you can receive £100 if you are under 80 and £150 if you are 80 or older. For those not in care homes, if you or your partner are over State Pension age, you could receive £200 towards your bills, and if you or your partner are over 80, you could receive £300. These payments are typically automatic, and you will receive a letter in October or November informing you of how much you will get.
Winter Fuel Allowance for Widows
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Week | 15 to 21 September 2025 |
| Eligibility | People born before 22 September 1959 |
| Eligibility | People who receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance |
| Eligibility | People who live in a care home and do not receive the above benefits |
| Amount | £100-£300 |
| Opt-Out Date | Before 15 September 2025 |
| Payment Date | November or December 2025 |
| Contact | Winter Fuel Payment helpline: 0800 731 0160 |
| Income Threshold | £35,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Qualifying for Winter Fuel Payment
To qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment, you must meet the following criteria:
Age
You must have been born before 22 September 1959 (or on or before 21 September 1959, according to some sources). This is the qualifying age for the 2025-26 payment. The qualifying age may change in future years.
Residency
You must live in England or Wales during the qualifying week, which is the week beginning with the third Monday in September. For 2025, this is 15 to 21 September.
Income
Your annual taxable income must be £35,000 or less. If your income is over this threshold, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back through the tax system.
Living arrangements
You are not entitled to Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home between 23 June and 21 September and receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. If you live in a care home and do not receive these benefits, you can still receive a Winter Fuel Payment of £100 if you are under 80, or £150 if you are 80 or older.
Benefits
If you or your partner receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, one person will be paid the whole Winter Fuel Payment for the household. If you and your partner do not receive these benefits, the payment is split between you and the other qualifying people you live with.
Opting out
You can opt out of receiving the Winter Fuel Payment if you do not want it. To opt out, contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 or go to www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim before 15 September 2025.
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How much you'll get
The amount of money you receive as a Winter Fuel Payment depends on your age, income, and living situation. If you were born before 22 September 1959, you could get between £100 and £300 to help with heating bills for the winter of 2025-26. Most eligible people will receive the payment automatically in November or December 2025.
If you or your partner are over State Pension age, you could receive £200 towards your bills. If you or your partner are over 80, you could receive £300. If you live with a partner who is also eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment, the payment will be split between you. If you are 80 years old or older, you will receive £300 if you do not live with anyone else who qualifies for a payment, and £200 if you live with someone else who is under 80 and qualifies for a Winter Fuel Payment themselves.
If you live in a care home and do not receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, your Winter Fuel Payment is £100 if you are under 80, and £150 if you are 80 or older. If you receive any of these benefits, you are not eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment.
If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. If you are eligible, you will get a letter in October or November telling you how much you will get.
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Exemptions
To qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment, you must have reached State Pension age. It is an annual payment for households that include someone born on or before 21 September 1959 (for 2025-26). If you have over £35,000 of taxable (gross) income per year, the payment you receive will be recovered through the tax system later on.
Living in a Care Home
If you live in a care home from 23 June to 21 September 2025 and receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you are not entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment. However, if you live in a care home and do not receive these benefits, you may still be eligible for a reduced payment of £100 if you are under 80, or £150 if you are 80 or older.
Income Threshold
If your income is over £35,000, you are not eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. The payment will be recovered by HMRC through the tax system from individuals with an annual income above this threshold.
Residency Requirements
To be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you must be living in Wales or England during the qualifying week, which is the week beginning from the third Monday in September (15 to 21 September in 2025). Eligibility rules are the same for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Benefit Status
From winter 2024/2025, households are no longer entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment unless they receive Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits. This change was implemented to support pensioner households on the lowest incomes.
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Other allowances
The UK government has made changes to the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules. From winter 2024/2025, only those who receive Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits will be eligible. The government has stated that these changes are necessary to address the substantial pressures facing public finances in 2024/25 and 2025/26.
In addition to the Winter Fuel Payment, there are other allowances available to help with heating costs during the winter. These include:
- Cold Weather Payment: This is available if you receive certain benefits and the temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
- Warm Home Discount: This is a £150 discount on your bills if you receive Pension Credit or live in a low-income household. The money is added as credit to your electricity account between October and March. If you use a prepayment meter, you will likely receive a top-up voucher.
- Household Support Fund: This is available if you are eligible under your local council's rules.
- Pension Age Winter Heating Payment: This is another option if you are not eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.
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How to claim
To qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment, you must have reached State Pension age. It is an annual payment for households that include someone born on or before 21 September 1959 (for 2025-26). If you have over £35,000 of taxable (gross) income per year, the payment you receive will be recovered through the tax system later on. To be eligible, you will also need to be living in Wales or England for the qualifying week (this is the week beginning from the third Monday in September - i.e. 15 to 21 September 2025).
If you or your partner are over State Pension age, you could receive £200 towards your bills. If you or your partner are over 80, you could receive £300. If you or your partner receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, one person will be paid the whole Winter Fuel Payment for the household. If you and your partner do not receive one of these benefits, the payment is split between you and the other qualifying people you live with. If you are 80 years old or older, you will receive £300 if you do not live with anyone else who qualifies for a payment, or £200 if you live with someone else who is under 80 years old and qualifies for a Winter Fuel Payment themselves.
If you live in a care home and you don’t receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, your Winter Fuel Payment is £100 if you are under 80, or £150 if you're aged 80 or older. Payments are automatic for most people. You do not need to do anything if you receive Industrial Death Benefit. If you're eligible, the Winter Fuel Payment for 2025-26 will be paid directly into your account between November and December 2025. If you do not get any of the benefits listed above, you will need to claim if either of the following apply: you have not received the Winter Fuel Payment before, or you have deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.
If you have not received your Winter Fuel Payment by January 2026, you can make a claim before 31 March 2026. You can contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 or online at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim. You can also opt out before 15 September 2025 by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment helpline or online at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim to say you do not want to receive a Winter Fuel Payment. If you change your mind later, you can still make a claim by 31 March 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
If you live in a care home and receive Pension Credit, you are not entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment.
If you live in a care home and do not receive Pension Credit, your Winter Fuel Payment is £100 if you are under 80, or £150 if you are 80 or older.
If you are a widow living alone and are over 80, you could receive £300.
If you live with someone else who is also eligible, you will receive £200.
