Overview

Winter Fuel payment eligibility criteria for winter 2025/26

The vast majority of Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically without the need to claim – and for those over the new £35,000 threshold, the Payment will be recovered automatically by HMRC via Pay as You Earn (PAYE) for the majority, or in their Self-Assessment tax return for those who already complete one. No one should need to register for Self-Assessment unless they have other income to report, as is always the case.If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible. 

From winter 2025/26, the Government will increase the level at which Winter Fuel Payments are means-tested in England and Wales so that the vast majority of pensioners, around 9 million individuals, will benefit from them.  

Payments will be made to all pensioners in England & Wales – but will subsequently be recovered by HMRC through a charge to income tax from pensioners who are not in receipt of Pension Credit or another relevant means-tested benefit and who have annual taxable income above £35,000.

If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get a letter in October or November saying how much you’ll get.

Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2025.

Scams

You may get calls, emails or messages that are pretending to be from a government service. If you get a message asking for your personal details (for example, bank details or passwords) this could be a scam. Winter Fuel Payments Scam Texts

Nearly all Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically without the need to claim. DWP have not issued any messages.

DWP never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for Winter Fuel Payment purposes.

If your Client have any doubt whether a text is genuine, forward it to 7726 (free of charge) and they will receive a reply confirming if it’s legitimate.

Your Client should block the telephone number and delete the message without clicking on any links.Report anything you think is suspicious.

Other help with heating bills

You could also get:

• a Cold Weather Payment – if you get certain benefits and the temperature drops to zero degrees celsius or below for 7 days in a row
• the Warm Home Discount – this is a £150 discount on your bills if you get Pension Credit or live in a low-income household
• help from the Household Support Fund, if you’re eligible under your local council’s rules