DWP Winter Fuel Payment qualifying week begins for millions

The qualifying week for Winter Fuel Payments is set to run from Monday, September 15 until Sunday, September 21. This period will determine whether people over State Pension age - those born before September 22, 1959 - are eligible to receive the annual heating assistance of up to £305.

Eligible pensioners in England and Wales will receive a one-off payment of £100, £200 or £300, based on the same factors. From next month, letters will be dispatched to all pensioners, with payments scheduled to be issued throughout November and December. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will manage those for residents in England and Wales.

It's estimated that 9 million pensioners in England and Wales, are set to benefit from this scheme. However, opting out may be the best course of action for those with an annual income exceeding £35,000, as any Winter Fuel Payment will be reclaimed by the UK Government through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), reports the Daily Record.

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Winter Fuel Payment

You are eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before 22 September, 1959 and live in England or Wales.

When you will not be eligible

You will not be eligible if you:

• live outside England and Wales (full Scotland details here)
• were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and the year before that
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025

If you live in a care home

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

• you get Universal Credit, 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 23 June 2025 or earlier

Payments

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

You will get either:

• £200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £300 if you were born before September 22, 1945

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

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

• Pension Credit
• Universal 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

You will get a payment of:

• £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 but the person you live with was born before September 22, 1945
• £200 if you were born before September 22, 1945 but the person you live with was born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £150 if you and the person you live with were born before September 22, 1945

If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits

One of you will get a payment of either:

• £200 if both of you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £300 if one or both of you were born before September 22, 1945

The money will be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into.

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

You will get a payment of either:

• £200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £300 if you were born before September 22, 1945

If your income is more than £35,000

HMRC will take back all of your Winter Fuel Payment through either PAYE or your Self Assessment tax return.

If you live in a care home

If you are eligible you'll get either:

• £100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £150 if you were born before September 22, 1945

When you will get paid

The DWP stated that most payments will be made automatically in November or December.

You should receive a letter telling you:

• how much you’ll get
• which bank account it will be paid into - this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits

The DWP added: "If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre."