Regan Brown
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free payment to help pensioners with their heating costs during winter. The amount of the payment depends on the recipient's age and income. People of state pension age up to 79 years old receive £200, while those aged 80 or older receive £300. Pensioners with an annual income of over £35,000 will have their payment recovered through the tax system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Help with heating costs during colder months |
| Who is eligible | People who have reached state pension age |
| Annual income limit | £35,000 |
| Amount for people under 80 years old | £200 |
| Amount for people 80 years old or above | £300 |
| Amount for people under 80 years old living with someone eligible under 80 years old | £100 |
| Amount for people under 80 years old living with someone eligible 80 years old or above | £150 |
| Payment date | Between November and December |
| Notification date | October or November |
| Notification mode | Letter |
| Payment mode | Directly into the account |
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What You'll Learn
- How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners in care homes?
- How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners in England and Wales?
- How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners in Scotland?
- How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners with an income of over £35,000?
- How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners aged 80 or over?
How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners in care homes?
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help with heating costs during the colder months. For the 2025-26 period, the payment will be available to those born before 22 September 1959, who can receive between £100 and £300. The payment is usually made in November or December.
If you live in a care home, you will not be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment if you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and you lived in a care home for the whole time between 23 June 2025 and 21 September 2025. If you live in a care home and do not receive these benefits, your Winter Fuel Payment is £100 if you are under 80, or £150 if you are 80 or older.
In England and Wales, households that do not receive an income-related benefit such as Pension Credit will share the payment. For example, a couple each aged under 80 will be paid £100 per person. In a household with two eligible residents, if one earns more than £35,000 and the other earns less, the higher-income pensioner will not receive anything, and the lower-income pensioner will receive half the payment.
In Scotland, the government plans to introduce a new winter heating payment for every single Scottish pensioner before winter 2025. The amount paid may be slightly higher than in England and Wales, either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, as the payment would be increased in line with inflation.
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How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners in England and Wales?
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free lump sum payment intended to help older people afford to heat their homes during winter. The amount of the payment depends on the recipient's age. For pensioners under the age of 80, the payment is £200, while pensioners aged 80 or above receive £300. People who receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance will have the entire payment paid to one person in the household. If the qualifying person lives with someone else who is also eligible, the payment will be split between them.
In 2024, the UK government restricted eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales to pensioners with an annual income of £35,000 or less who received Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits. This decision was criticised by several charities, unions, and MPs, as it meant that more than 10 million pensioners did not receive a Winter Fuel Payment in 2024. In response, the government announced a U-turn in June 2025, extending eligibility to all pensioners in England and Wales with an annual income of £35,000 or less. This change will cost around £1.25 billion and is expected to benefit approximately 9 million pensioners, or over three-quarters of pensioners in England and Wales.
The Winter Fuel Payment is typically paid automatically in November or December. Individuals will receive a letter in October or November informing them of how much they will receive if they are eligible. The payment will be recovered from individuals with annual incomes above £35,000 through the tax system.
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How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners in Scotland?
The Winter Fuel Payment scheme was replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment scheme in Scotland in 2024. The new scheme is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and will be paid by Social Security Scotland from 2025 onwards.
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual grant of between £100 and £300, depending on the recipient's circumstances, age, and whether they receive Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit. Those who receive Pension Credit will get a bigger payment. If you don't receive pension credit or another qualifying benefit, the payment will be £100. If you receive pension credit or another qualifying benefit, the payment will be £200 or £300, depending on your age. The qualifying week is the week beginning from the third Monday in September.
The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment scheme is designed to help pensioners in Scotland with their heating bills during the winter months. The Scottish Government announced that all pensioner households in Scotland should qualify for a Winter Fuel/Pension Age Winter Heating Payment for the winter of 2025/2026. This is a change from the previous year, when only those receiving Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit were eligible.
If you are old enough to get a state pension, you should be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back through the tax system. Most eligible people will receive their payment automatically in November or December, and they will be informed of their payment via letter.
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How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners with an income of over £35,000?
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help pensioners with their heating costs during the colder months. The amount of the payment depends on the age of the recipient and whether they share a household with another eligible recipient. For the 2025-26 period, households with someone between State Pension age and 79 years old will receive £200, while households with someone aged 80 or older will receive £300. Where the household is not getting an income-related benefit, such as Pension Credit, a shared payment will be made. For example, a couple, each under 80 and not on Pension Credit, will receive a payment of £100 each.
If you have a taxable <>(gross) income of over £35,000 per year, you will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, but it will be recovered through the tax system. This means that while you will initially receive the payment, it will be taken back later on through higher tax bills. Pensioners above the £35,000 threshold will have the full amount of the Winter Fuel Payment they received automatically collected via PAYE, or via their Self-Assessment return. This means that no registration with HMRC is required.
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How much is the winter fuel payment for pensioners aged 80 or over?
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help pensioners with their heating costs during the colder months. People who are 80 years or older will receive £300 if they do not live with anyone else who qualifies for a payment. If they live with someone else who is under 80 years old and qualifies for a Winter Fuel Payment, they will receive £200. If they live with someone who qualifies and is also 80 or older, they will receive £150.
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 and 21 September of the year before you receive the payment. This is called the "qualifying week". Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible. If you do not get a letter but think you are eligible, you can check if you need to make a claim.
You are not entitled to Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home between 23 June and 21 September of the year before you receive the payment and you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. If you live in a care home and you do not receive one of these benefits, your Winter Fuel Payment is £150 if you are 80 or older.
In 2024, the government decided to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, so it is "targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest". This meant that over 10 million pensioners did not receive a Winter Fuel Payment. However, after much criticism, the government announced a U-turn, and in June 2025, it was confirmed that the recent changes would be reversed.
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Frequently asked questions
Pensioners in England and Wales will receive £200 if they are under 80 years old and £300 if they are 80 or older.
The Scottish government plans to introduce a new winter heating payment for pensioners before winter 2025. The payment will be slightly higher than in England and Wales, at either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, as it will be adjusted for inflation.
The Northern Ireland Communities Minister announced that affected pensioners would receive a one-off payment of £100 to help with heating costs.
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free lump sum payment intended to help older people with their heating costs during the winter months.
