Do All Pensioners Get Winter Fuel Payment?

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual UK tax-free cost of living payment worth £200 to £300. How much you’re eligible for each winter will depend on your age, any benefits you claim and the personal circumstances of anybody else you live with.

This benefit helps people above the State Pension age who claim a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit with heating costs during the winter months. Below, we’ve looked at whether all pensioners get a Winter Fuel Payment.

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In this article:

1. What is the Winter Fuel Payment?
2. Do all pensioners get a Winter Fuel Payment?
3. Am I eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment?
4. Winter Fuel Payment rates 2024/2025
5. When do you get it?
6. How to claim Winter Fuel Payment
7. Challenging a decision

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What Is the Winter Fuel Payment?

The Winter Fuel Payment is a one-off, annual payment for households that include somebody born on or before the 23rd of September 1958 (above the State Pension age), who claims a means-tested benefit.

This benefit is tax-free, and it also doesn’t count as income when working out your entitlement to other benefits. However, the amount you’re eligible to receive will depend on your personal circumstances (we’ve explained these later on).

This qualification date for pensioners to apply for a Winter Fuel Payment changes every year. For the winter of 2024/2025, the qualifying week was between the 16th and 22nd of September 2024.

The Winter Fuel Payment is for people living in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Do All Pensioners Get A Winter Fuel Payment?

While all pensioners were eligible to receive a Winter Fuel Payment for the winter of 2023/2024, they aren’t for 2024/2025. Eligibility rules have changed, meaning people above the State Pension age will now only be eligible if they also claim a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit.

You’ll be classed as a pensioner if you’ve reached the State Pension age. Currently, this is 66 for men and women in the UK, and you can check your qualifying age here.

You also won’t qualify as a pensioner if any of the following apply/applied during the qualifying week:

• You lived in a care home for the previous 12 weeks or more and received certain benefits
• You were in prison
• You were in the hospital receiving free treatment for more than 52 weeks
• You required permission to enter the UK and didn’t qualify for support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• You were living abroad (though you may still be eligible if you lived in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country and have a strong link to the UK
• You lived in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain (as these countries have higher average winter temperatures than the UK)

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Am I Eligible For a Winter Fuel Payment?

To be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment, you or someone else in your household will need to qualify for the State Pension and claim one of the following means-tested benefits:

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

You'll also need to be above the State Pension age during the yearly qualifying week. For 2024/2025, this was between the 16th and 22nd of September 2024.

This qualifying date of birth is published and updated on the GOV.UK website each year.

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Winter Fuel Payment Rates 2024/2025 (How Much You’ll Get)

If you were born before the 23rd of September 1958, you could receive a Winter Fuel Payment worth either £200 or £300.

Here are the Winter Fuel Payment rates for 2024/2025, depending on your circumstances:

If you live alone or in a care home

If you live with someone

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When Do You Get the Winter Fuel Payment?

The majority of Winter Fuel Payments are automatically made in November or December.

Before this payment is made, you’ll get a letter explaining how much you’re due to receive, along with an estimated payment date. This payment will be sent directly to your bank account.

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How To Claim Winter Fuel Payment

If you receive State Pension and a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit, you don’t need to claim and should be paid the Winter Fuel Payment automatically.

If you haven’t applied before and don’t receive a State Pension or any of the correct benefits, you may need to apply to receive this payment.

You can claim for winter 2024 to 2025 from the 16th of September 2024.

You can claim by calling the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160. You’ll need to provide your National Insurance number and bank or building society details.

You can also claim by downloading a claim form and posting this.

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Challenging A Winter Fuel Payment Decision

If you’ve applied for a Winter Fuel Payment and disagree with the decision made on your claim, you’re usually able to ask for this to be looked at again. This is known as a ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

If you disagree with the following decision, the next step is appealing to an independent tribunal.

You’ll find more guidance on appealing a benefit decision through GOV.UK.

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