Pensioners across Great Britain are being urged to check their bank accounts as a crucial deadline for the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Winter Fuel Payment looms. Those who have not yet received the annual support, worth up to £300, must act before the end of January.
Key Deadline for Missing Payments
The final date to report a missing Winter Fuel Payment for the 2025/26 season is Wednesday, 28 January 2026. The DWP states that the majority of payments were made automatically in November or December last year. If you are eligible and the money has not arrived in your account by the 28th, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre from that date onwards.
You can get in touch by calling the helpline on 0800 731 0160 (or 18001 then 0800 731 0160 for Relay UK). Alternatively, you can send a letter to: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
Who is Eligible for the Payment?
The Winter Fuel Payment is designed to help older people with heating costs. To qualify for this winter's payment, you must have been born on or before 22 September 1959.
Most people receive the payment automatically if they were claiming one of the following benefits during the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
If you do not claim any of these benefits, you will need to make a manual claim if you have never had the payment before or if you have deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment. The final deadline for new claims is 31 March 2026.
Important Exceptions and Regional Changes
It is important to note that you will not be eligible for the payment if, during the qualifying week, you were in hospital receiving free treatment, or in prison. Eligibility is also affected if you lived in a care home for the whole period from 23 June 2025 (or earlier) while claiming certain benefits like Pension Credit.
Residents of Scotland should be aware that the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. This separate Scottish Government benefit is worth between £101.70 and £305.10.
Finally, note that if your annual income exceeds £35,000, you may need to repay the Winter Fuel Payment through the tax system.
