Overview & What you’ll get
1 Overview of the Winter Fuel Payment
You could get between £250 and £300 tax-free to help pay your heating bills if you were born on or before the qualifying date. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’, which is sometimes called a winter fuel allowance or heating allowance.
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances in September 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’. You will also need an annual income below £35,000, following a recent government announcement.
Most payments are made automatically between November and January.
In June 2025, the government announced that the Winter Fuel Payment will be a means-tested benefit and all pensioners with an annual income under £35,000 will receive the payment.
75% of pensioners, or additional 7.5 million people will now be eligible for the payment of at least £200 per year.
Along with the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment you could be entitled to up to £500 per year. If you qualify but don’t get paid automatically, you’ll need to make a claim. Any money you get won’t affect your other benefits.
You can get the Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before 22 September 1958.
The minimum age to qualify for the 2025-6 Winter Fuel Payment will change next year.
The date and eligibility rules will change so you’ll need to check at a later date to find out if you’ll qualify in winter 2025-6.
2 What You’ll Get
How much you get depends on your circumstances during the qualifying week. The qualifying week for winter 2025-26 will be in September 2025 and will be confirmed nearer the time. Any money you get is tax-free and won’t affect your other benefits.
If you live alone
You’ll get either:
- £200 if you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958
- £300 if you were born before 23 September 1944
If you live with someone
If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits, one of you will get a payment of either:
- £200 if one or both of you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958
- £300 if one or both of you were born before 23 September 1944
If you live in a care home
If you’re eligible you’ll get either:
- £200 if you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958
- £300 if you were born before 23 September 1944
How and when you’re paid
You’ll get a letter telling you how much you’ll get and an estimated payment date.
Most payments are made automatically between November and January, and you should have received your money by 29 January 2026.
If you qualify and you’re not getting a social security benefit (or if you only get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Child Benefit), you’ll need to make a claim.
All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, e.g. a bank account.
Do you qualify for Cold Weather Payments? >
Get the Warm Home Discount – £150 >
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
