A Winter Fuel Payment is a one-off, tax-free payment made during the winter to help with heating costs. It is made to households that include someone over State Pension age.

Most people born on or before 25 September 1956 will usually qualify for a payment in 2022/23 (the date changes every year).

Most payments are made automatically during November and December. If you apply for the first time, you should receive your payment before Christmas.

The amount you can receive each winter can vary according to your personal circumstances. Your age or other people living with you who are also eligible can affect the amount you receive.

A Winter Fuel Payment does not count as income when working out your entitlement to other benefits.

In 2022/23 people who get a Winter Fuel Payment will also get an extra £300 Cost of Living payment.
 

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Age rules: You will qualify for your first Winter Fuel Payment when you reach Pension age.

Type of benefit: Non-means-tested. You do not have to have paid National Insurance contributions.

Taxable: No

Administered by: Department for Work and Pensions

Updated : July 2022

You will be eligible if:

• You were born on or before 25 September 1956 for winter 2022 to 2023 (the date changes every year),

and

• You will be living in the UK for at least one day of the week of 19 to 25 September 2022.

If you live in another European Economic Area country or Switzerland, you may still be eligible if you have a genuine link with the UK (excluding Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Spain).

If you meet the qualifying age but you live in a care home, you get a reduced payment; unless you get Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), in which case you do not qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment.

Updated: July 2022
 

See the Winter Fuel Payment information on the GOV.UK website for the rates available. These depend on your age and the age of your partner.

How will I be paid a Winter Fuel Payment?

A Winter Fuel Payment will be paid directly into your bank or building society account or through the Payment Exception Service if you are unable to open or manage one of these or a similar account.

The money is normally paid from November and most payments are made by Christmas.

Winter Fuel Payment and other benefits

A Winter Fuel Payment does not count as income when working out your entitlement to other benefits.
 

Most people do not need to make a claim for a Winter Fuel Payment. You are usually paid automatically if you are getting other benefits like Basic State Pension or New State Pension. (Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit and Universal Credit do not count as other benefits).

You will also be paid automatically if you got a payment last winter and your circumstances have not changed.

If you are not getting other benefits and you did not get a payment last winter, you must make a claim.

For the winter of 2022/2023, claims must be sent and arrive by 31 March 2023.

Making a claim

Claim over the phone:

Telephone: 0800 731 0160
Textphone: Call Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 731 0160

On the gov.uk website you can:

• Download a form to print and fill in
• Claim using BSL

What documents will I need to claim a Winter Fuel Payment?

You will need your national insurance number, the date of your marriage or civil partnership and your bank details.

When will my Winter Fuel Payment claim begin?

Most payments are made automatically between November and December. You should usually get your money by Christmas.

If you meet the qualifying conditions for a Winter Fuel Payment but do not get your payment automatically, you will need to make a claim and payment will be made to you three months after applying.

You cannot claim a Winter Fuel Payment for previous winters.

Updated July 2022

If you disagree with the decision made on your claim you can usually ask for it to be looked at again known as a 'mandatory reconsideration'. If you still disagree with the further decision you can then appeal to an independent tribunal.

The time limits are strict, you will usually be given one month to dispute a decision, so it is important to seek advice and act quickly.

See our guide to challenging decisions which includes the different process for challenging decisions in Northern Ireland  Challenging Department of Work and Pensions Benefit Decisions

Pensioners who get Pension Credit can get £150 off their winter fuel bill through the Warm Home Discount scheme. Lots of pensioners are entitled to Pension Credit but are not receiving it. Use our free, confidential online benefits calculator to check if you could get Pension Credit to access extra help. 

In 2022 and 2023, councils have Household Support Funds to help households who are struggling. Contact your council to see if they can help.

The government cost of living scheme is giving extra help to pensioners:

• Extra £300 on Winter Fuel Payment.
• £400 off winter electricity bills for all households who pay an electricity bill to a supplier.
• Extra lump sum payments of £324 in Summer and Autumn for households getting Pension Credit.

Updated: July 2022