The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed which state pensioners will not receive a Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300 this winter unless they ask for it.
Winter Fuel Payments are worth between £100 and £300 and will be paid to pensioners born on or before June 27, 1960, from mid-November, unless they chose to opt out. In most cases, pensioners will receive the payment automatically and should get the money from the DWP in November or December.
If you are eligible for a payment this year, you should have received a letter in October or November confirming how much you will get, with payments then due to roll out from mid-November.
When a claim is required
There are some instances where pensioners will not get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically and must ask the DWP for it. According to the DWP, pensioners will need to make a claim asking for the Winter Fuel Payment if they have deferred their State Pension and do not get another qualifying DWP benefit, or they are asked by the DWP to make a claim.
There are 12 qualifying benefits that mean you do not need to claim the Winter Fuel Payment and will receive it automatically, including the State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), awards from the War Pensions Scheme, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit and Industrial Death Benefit.
If you do not get any of these, you will need to claim your Winter Fuel Payment. You can do this by filling in a claim form and sending it by post, or via phone by calling the Winter Fuel Payment centre on 0800 731 0160.
Official guidance on payments
Confirming who will need to ask for a Winter Fuel Payment in fresh guidance published this month, the DWP said: “You will get a letter in October or November explaining what the total amount is and how it will be paid.
“Your automatic payment will go into the same account as your Pension or other benefits. Payments will be made from mid-November 2026 onwards. Most eligible people will get paid automatically without having to make a claim. You will need to make a claim if: you have deferred your State Pension, and you do not get another DWP benefit, or DWP ask you to make a claim.
“If your total income is over £35,000 per year, HMRC will recover your Winter Fuel Payment. This will be done through the tax system.”
The deadline to opt out of receiving a Winter Fuel Payment this year has now passed, but pensioners can opt out of next year's payment from December 21. Opting out will not affect your State Pension and you do not need to opt out every year as you will not receive a payment in future unless you choose to opt back in.
If you do decide to opt back in, you can do so by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. To get a payment for winter 2026 to 2027, you will need to contact the service before March 31, 2027.
