Thousands of pensioners across the UK are being urged to check their bank accounts as a crucial deadline for the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Winter Fuel Payment looms.
Key Date for Missing Payments
The DWP states that the vast majority of eligible individuals should have received their annual Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300, during November or December. However, if the payment has not arrived in your account by 28 January 2026, you must take action.
From that date, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to report the missing funds. This support is designed to help those over state pension age with heating costs during the coldest months.
How to Contact the DWP
If your payment is missing, you have two options to get in touch with the authorities. You can either call the dedicated helpline or send a letter.
The telephone number for the Winter Fuel Payment Centre is 0800 731 0160. For those using Relay UK, dial 18001 followed by 0800 731 0160.
Alternatively, you can post a letter to the following address: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
Who is Eligible for the Payment?
To qualify for the payment automatically, you must have been born on or before 22 September 1959. You should also have been in receipt of one of a list of qualifying benefits during the assessment week of 15 to 21 September 2025.
The benefits that trigger automatic payment include:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
If you do not claim any of these benefits, you may still be eligible but will need to make a manual claim. This applies if you have never received the Winter Fuel Payment before, or if you have deferred your State Pension since your last payment.
The final deadline for making a new claim is 31 March 2026.
Important Exceptions and Regional Changes
It is important to note that some people will not be eligible for the payment. You cannot claim if you were in hospital receiving free treatment for the entirety of the qualifying week and the preceding year, or if you were in prison during that week.
Furthermore, residents who lived in a care home from 23 June 2025 (or earlier) and who claim certain benefits like Pension Credit are also not eligible.
Residents of Scotland should be aware that the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced. The Scottish Government now administers the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, which offers between £101.70 and £305.10.
Finally, individuals with an annual income exceeding £35,000 are required to repay the Winter Fuel Payment through the tax system.
