Winter Fuel Payment

Winter Fuel Payment

The Government announced in July 2024 that, from this year onwards, to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment you must have reached State Pension age and receive a qualifying means-tested benefit.

What You Need to Know

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free payment to help with heating costs during the colder months.

Who is Eligible?

To qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment in 2024-2025, you must meet the following criteria:

• Age: You were born on or before 22 September 1958.
• Benefits: You receive one of the following:
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit with an award of at least £26 for the 2024-2025 tax year
• Residency: You lived in England or Wales during the qualifying week of 16 to 22 September 2024.

Note: You will not receive the payment if you lived in a care home or nursing home between 24 June and 22 September 2024.

Payment Amount

• If you are over State Pension age, you could receive £200 towards your heating bills.
• If you are over 80, you could receive £300.

Payments are made to the main claimant of the qualifying benefit and are intended for the household.

How to Claim

• If you or your partner already receive Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you should receive the payment automatically. This means that you should not need to make a claim.
• If this is your first time claiming or you receive Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit, you may need to make a claim. To fin out how to do this, please visit www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim

When will Winter Fuel Payments by made?

You can expect to receive your payment between mid-November and Christmas. If you have questions or do not receive your payment, contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline at 0800 731 0160.