Winter Fuel Payments up to £300 for eligible pensioners from November

The Department for Work and Pensions will begin paying Winter Fuel Payments to millions of pensioners from November, with most payments due to land in bank accounts through December. Households where someone was born on or before 22 September 1959 and whose annual income is below £35,000 will be eligible for up to £300 to help with winter heating bills, the department confirmed.

Under the rules for winter 2025 to 2026, most eligible households will receive automatic payments. Single households where a recipient is under 80 will normally receive £200, while households including someone aged 80 or over will get £300. Payments are usually made once per household unless an individual receives an income-related benefit such as Pension Credit, in which case separate payments can apply. Couples may receive a split payment and, where one partner’s income exceeds the £35,000 threshold, HM Revenue and Customs will reclaim that partner’s share.

Around nine million pensioners in England and Wales are expected to receive the support this year, while roughly four million pensioners with incomes above £35,000 will not qualify. To identify ineligible cases quickly, the government will initially...