Winter Fuel Payment may need to be claimed by some older people after today (2024)

The Winter Fuel Payment window is due to close today (January 26) with nearly 12 million pensioner households expected to have received up to £600 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) since the money started landing automatically in bank accounts in November.

This winter's annual heating bill help also includes the £300 pensioner cost of living payment. The DWP recently said while the vast majority of payments have already been issued, money will continue to arrive until Friday. People who do not receive an automatic payment by January 26 should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre as they may need to make a claim.

Pensioners are being urged to double check their bank statements for this reference number before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160. The money will appear in bank accounts with the payment reference starting with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP.’

Who might need to claim Winter Fuel Payment?

The majority of pensioners will receive their payment automatically, but some people may need to claim.

If you have not had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if any of the following apply:

• You do not get benefits or the State Pension
• The only benefit you get is Adult Disability Payment, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit
• You live in Switzerland or an eligible EEA country

If you have received a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if since your last payment you have either:

• Deferred your State Pension
• Moved to Switzerland or an eligible EEA country

How to make a claim

You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by post or over the phone.

Claim by post

• Fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents and send it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre - the form and address details are on GOV.UK here.

Claim over the phone

• Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 - lines are currently open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. Before making the call have your National Insurance number, bank or building society details and the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate) to hand.

Winter Fuel Payments in a nutshell

It’s important to note that to be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you must have been born before September 25, 1957 and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 18 to 24 September 2023 - known as the ‘qualifying week’.

If you did not meet either of these qualifying criteria, or if you live abroad, you may need to make a claim. If you’ve had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to claim again unless you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved abroad - find out more here.

Who does not need to make a claim?

You do not need to claim if you get any of the following:

• State Pension
• Pension Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carers Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Death Benefit

How much you will be paid

Any money you get is tax-free and will not affect your other benefits.

If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

You will get either:

• £500 if you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 (aged between 66 and 79)
• £600 if you were born before September 25, 1943 (aged 80 and over)

If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support

If you do not get any of the benefits listed above

You will get a payment of either:

• £250 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £250 if you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 but the person you live with was born before September 25, 1943
• £350 if you were born before September 25, 1943 but the person you live with was born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £300 if you and the person you live with were both born before September 25, 1943

If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits listed above

One of you will get a payment of either:

• £500 if both of you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 (aged between 66 and 79)
• £600 if one or both of you were born before September 25, 1943 (aged 80 and over)

If you get any of the benefits listed above (not as part of a joint claim)

You will get a payment of either:

• £500 if you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 (aged between 66 and 79)
• £600 if you were born before September 25, 1943 (aged 80 and over)

If you live in a care home

If you are eligible you will get either:

• £250 if you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £300 if you were born before September 25, 1943

Eligibility if you live in a care home

You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. You will not be eligible if both of the following apply:

• you get Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• you lived in a care home for the whole time from 26 June to 24 September 2023

Who is not eligible for Winter Fuel Payments 2023/24?

You will not be eligible if you:

• have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole of the week of 18 to 24 September 2023

You can read the full guide to this year's Winter Fuel Payment on GOV.UK here.

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