Winter Fuel Payment

Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free payment to help with heating costs. Most payments are made between November and December.

How much could I get?

If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 you could get between £100 and £300 to help with your bills in the winter of 2021-2022.

However, you’ll usually get less if you live with other people who also qualify or if you live in a care home or nursing home and don't get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support.

If you live in a care home or nursing home and receive any of these benefits then you're not entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment.

Am I eligible to claim Winter Fuel Payment?

You may be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2021-2022 if you meet all the following criteria:

• you were born on or before 26 September 1955 (the eligibility birth date changes every financial year).
• you lived in the UK throughout the qualifying week for the financial year of 2021–2022, which is 20–26 September 2021)

You usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you receive the State Pension or another benefit, such as Pension Credit (but not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support or Universal Credit).

If you qualify but don’t get paid automatically, you’ll need to make a claim.

How can I claim Winter Fuel Payment?

If you've not claimed before

If you're claiming for the first time, call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160. You'll need to know your National Insurance number and your bank or building society details.

If you have claimed before

Don't worry, you only need to claim once. After this, you should automatically receive a payment every year, as long as your circumstances don’t change.

Some people have received a letter including old bank account details, but this shouldn't be a problem. The DWP has the correct information and payment should still be made to the correct bank account. However, if your notification letter gives the wrong information about eligibility – for example, it states a lower amount than you're is entitled to – or if no notification letter has been received, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160.

The DWP aimed to have made all payments for 2020-2021 by 31 March, but if you haven't received a payment yet, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 and your case will be treated as a priority.