The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed an October date for state pensioners to claim their Winter Fuel Payment. Eligible pensioners will be able to claim by phone from Monday, October 19, 2026.
You’ll be eligible to get a Winter Fuel Payment this year if you were born on or before June 27, 1960. The payments are worth between £100 and £300, but the amount you get depends on your age and individual circumstances.
Who does not need to claim
Most eligible pensioners will receive their Winter Fuel Payment automatically from November, but in some cases, you may need to make a claim. The DWP has confirmed that pensioners in receipt of at least one of 12 benefits do NOT need to claim their Winter Fuel Payment.
This is the case if you get any of the following: 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, or Industrial Death Benefit.
How to claim
If you don’t get any of these then you will need to submit a claim if you’ve either not got the Winter Fuel Payment before, or you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.
From October 19, 2026, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0900 731 0160 and you have until March 31, 2027, to make your claim for winter 2026 to 2027. If you would prefer to submit a claim by post, you can do this now by completing an online form and sending this to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Qualifying week and payment details
The DWP said: “You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible. If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim. The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 21 to 27 September 2026. This is called the ‘qualifying week’.”
It added: “Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.” The DWP also confirmed: “You can claim the Winter Fuel Payment by: post - from 21 September 2026; phone - from 19 October 2026. The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2026 to 2027 is 31 March 2027.”
