Three groups of people over State Pension age may need to apply for Winter Fuel Payments this year

A new video shared on YouTube by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) explains everything older people need to know about the Winter Fuel Payment, including eligibility, how and when the money is paid, and the three groups of people who may need to make a claim. Payments this year include the pensioner cost of living payment, worth £300, which means eligible households could receive up to £600.

The short video offers a good snapshot of what to expect, especially if you’ve never received the payment before and makes it easy to understand who is likely to receive the higher payment of £600 - those over 80, not living in a care home. Those aged between 66 and 79 will most-likely receive a one-off payment of £500.

The three groups of people who may not receive the payments automatically include those who have never received the Winter Fuel Payment before, those who do not get the State Pension or certain benefits and those who have recently retired abroad. You can check if you need to claim on the GOV.UK website here.

Last year, more than 11 million pensioner households received Winter Fuel Payments of up to £600 and the DWP has said over 8 million will receive the additional £300 cost of living payment this year.

People who are due the one-off lump sum should receive a letter from the DWP telling them how much money to expect ahead of payments arriving between November and January.

It’s important to note to be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you must have been born before September 25, 1957 and lived in the UK for at least one day during the qualifying week of 18 to 24 September 2023.

If you did not meet either of these qualifying criteria, you may also need to make a claim. If you’ve had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to claim again unless you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved abroad - find out more here.

DWP said the pensioner cost of living payment will be made alongside the Winter Fuel Payment in November or December. The money will be paid into the account where the State Pension or other benefits are usually paid.

Payments will continue until January 26, 2024. If you haven’t received a letter from DWP or the payment by that date, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 (living in the UK), or +44 (0)191 218 7777 (living outside the UK). Full contact details can be found on GOV.UK here.

You can watch the Winter Fuel Payment video on YouTube here.

Below is an overview of key things you need to know about the Winter Fuel Payments, including breakdown of payments by household type. Full details can be found on GOV.UK here.

Who does not need to make a claim for Winter Fuel Payment?

You do not need to claim if you get any of the following:

• State Pension
• Pension Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carers Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Death Benefit

How to make a claim

You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by post or over the phone.

Claim by post

• Fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents and send it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre - the form and address details are on GOV.UK here.

Claim over the phone

• Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 - lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. Before making the call have your National Insurance number, bank or building society details and the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate) to hand.

How much you will be paid

Any money you get is tax-free and will not affect your other benefits.

If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

You will get either:

• £500 if you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 (aged between 66 and 79)
• £600 if you were born before September 25, 1943 (aged 80 and over)

If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support

If you do not get any of the benefits listed above

You will get a payment of either:

• £250 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £250 if you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 but the person you live with was born before September 25, 1943
• £350 if you were born before September 25, 1943 but the person you live with was born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £300 if you and the person you live with were both born before September 25, 1943

If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits listed above

One of you will get a payment of either:

• £500 if both of you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 (aged between 66 and 79)
• £600 if one or both of you were born before September 25, 1943 (aged 80 and over)

If you get any of the benefits listed above (not as part of a joint claim)

You will get a payment of either:

• £500 if you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 (aged between 66 and 79)
• £600 if you were born before September 25, 1943 (aged 80 and over)

If you live in a care home

If you are eligible you will get either:

• £250 if you were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £300 if you were born before September 25, 1943

Eligibility if you live in a care home

You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. You will not be eligible if both of the following apply:

• you get Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• you lived in a care home for the whole time from 26 June to 24 September 2023

Who is not eligible for Winter Fuel Payments 2023/24?

You will not be eligible if you:

• have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole of the week of 18 to 24 September 2023

You can read the full guide to this year's Winter Fuel Payment on GOV.UK here.

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