Millions of people on low incomes are set to receive extra financial help this winter, with three benefits worth up to £460 available alongside a fourth that depends on the weather. While most payments are made automatically, some households will need to apply.
Winter Fuel Payment (£100 to £300)
The Winter Fuel Payment is paid to eligible state pensioners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland born on or before June 27, 1960. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sends letters in October and November, with payments arriving in November or December.
While it will be paid to all pensioners born after the cut-off date, anyone with an annual income over £35,000 will have this reclaimed via tax adjustments. People living in Scotland will instead receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, which offers up to £316.79 automatically.
Depending on factors such as age and living situation, this payment can be worth up to £300. It will not impact your benefits and typically does not require a claim. If you receive any of the following benefits, there is no need to make a claim:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Carer’s 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
However, if you do not receive any of these benefits, you will need to make a claim if either of the following apply: you’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before, or you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.
While the majority of eligible individuals automatically receive this payment, those earning over £35,000 annually will have to repay it unless they choose to opt out. People with income over £35,000 have until noon on October 19 to opt out of this year's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
Warm Home Discount (£150)
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill. If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you and it will not have any effect on your entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payment.
You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible. You may need to apply directly to your energy supplier if you live in Scotland. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.
Warm Home Discount is currently closed but reopens in October for winter 2026. It is applied directly as a credit to your electricity or gas bill if your supplier is part of the scheme and you receive means-tested benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Housing Benefit.
The following suppliers will be part of the winter 2026 to 2027 scheme:
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Boost
- British Gas
- E - also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
- Ecotricity
- EDF
- EnergyCoop – see Octopus Energy
- E.ON Next
- Fuse Energy
- Good Energy
- Home Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox Energy
- OVO
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas – see British Gas
- ScottishPower
- So Energy
- Square 1 Energy Ltd
- TruEnergy
- Tulo Energy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
DWP Christmas Bonus (£10) and Cold Weather Payments (£25 per week)
The Christmas Bonus is a tax-free payment paid automatically in December to people receiving specific long-term benefits during the first full week of December. It has been criticised over recent years as it currently stands at £10 - the same amount as it was when it was first paid in 1972. At that time it was more than the weekly State Pension which was then £6.75.
You do not need to claim it as it should be paid automatically. To be eligible, you must receive at least one of the qualifying benefits during the qualifying week - usually the first full week in December. Qualifying benefits include Adult Disability Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Carer Support Payment, Child Disability Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance, Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim), Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate, Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers), Mobility Supplement, Pension Age Disability Payment, Pension Credit - the guarantee element, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA), Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected), State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit), Unemployability Supplement or Allowance, War Disablement Pension at State Pension age, War Widow’s Pension, Widowed Mother’s Allowance, Widowed Parent’s Allowance, and Widow’s Pension.
If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits, you will not get a Christmas Bonus.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme aims to help households when temperatures plummet. It opens on November 1 and runs until March 31. It triggers a £25 payment for every seven-day period of consecutive sub-zero temperatures in your postcode area, paid to individuals on specific low-income benefits.
The payment goes to those receiving specific benefits, including Pension Credit, Income Support and Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest. It operates automatically, meaning there's typically no requirement to make an application. Scottish residents cannot receive Cold Weather Payments but may instead be entitled to an annual Winter Heating Payment.
