Pensioners are being urged to submit an application for a Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300 within the next seven days. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the vast majority of eligible households received the one-off sum automatically before the January 28 deadline. However, those who did not receive a letter or see the money in their bank account must file a claim by post or telephone before March 31, 2026.
Eligibility is restricted to pensioners born before September 22, 1959, with earnings at or below £35,000. If you meet these criteria and did not receive an automatic payment, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160. The payment reference on bank statements typically begins with your National Insurance number followed by 'DWP WFP'.
The Winter Fuel Payment is intended to help cover energy bills and is paid automatically to most eligible people during the qualifying week (September 15–21, 2025). The amount depends on your birth date and circumstances during that week, ranging from £100 to £300. It does not affect other benefits, but may be recovered by HMRC through PAYE or Self Assessment if you are a higher earner.
Separately, close to 90,000 pensioners in Scotland aged over 66 should have received their Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from Social Security Scotland by the end of February. Full details on how to claim the Winter Fuel Payment by post or phone are available on GOV.UK.
