The winter fuel payment, also referred to as a “heating allowance”, is an annual tax-free payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for older people to help them heat their homes during the colder months.
This year, as it was in 2022, the payment is being topped up with the pensioner cost of living grant, meaning some people can receive as much as £600 – and the money is starting to arrive in their accounts.
Here’s everything you need to know about the winter fuel payment, from eligibility rules, to how much you can get, when it will be paid, and what to do if yours is late.
Who gets the winter fuel payment?
You are generally eligible for the winter fuel payment if you were born before 25 September 1957 and live in the UK. You only need to have lived in the UK for the week from 18-24 September 2023 to qualify.
If you live in a care home you will still be eligible, unless you lived there for the whole period from 26 June to 24 September 2023 and receive pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) or income-related employment and support allowance (ESA).
You also 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 that you cannot claim public funds;
- were in prison for the whole of the week of 18-24 September 2023.
How much can you get?
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying week of 18-24 September 2023.
This year, the grant includes an additional £150-£300, which comes from the pensioner cost of living payment. That figure is included in the following breakdown.
If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the winter fuel payment, you’ll get either:
- £500 if you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
- £600 if you were born before 25 September 1943
If you live with someone else who is eligible for the winter fuel payment, the amount you get may be affected if you receive pension credit, JSA, ESA or income support.
If you do not get any of the benefits you will get a payment of either:
- £250 if you and the person you live with were both born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
- £250 if you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957 but the person you live with was born before 25 September 1943
- £350 if you were born before 25 September 1943 but the person you live with was born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
- £300 if you and the person you live with were both born before 25 September 1943
If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits one of you will get a payment of either:
- £500 if both of you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
- £600 if one or both of you were born before 25 September 1943
If you get any of the benefits not as part of a joint claim, you will get a payment of either:
- £500 if you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
- £600 if you were born before 25 September 1943
If you live in a care home and are eligible you will get either:
- £250 if you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
- £300 if you were born before 25 September 1943
When will it be paid?
Most payments are made automatically in November or December.
Beforehand you will get a letter telling you how much you will get, and which bank account it will be paid into. This is normally the same account as your state pension or other benefits.
If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 26 January 2024, contact the winter fuel payment centre.
Do you need to apply?
You don’t typically have to apply for the winter fuel payment if you are eligible. You should receive the money automatically.
If you have not had the payment before, you will need to claim if any of the following apply:
- you do not get benefits or a state pension;
- you only get housing benefit, council tax reduction, child benefit or universal credit;
- you get benefits or a state pension but live in Switzerland or an EEA country;
- you get an adult disability payment from the Scottish Government.
You can claim winter fuel payment by phone or by post. Call 0800 731 0160 (+44 191 218 7777 from outside the UK) or find the claim form here.
Before you call, you will need to know your:
- national insurance number;
- bank or building society details;
- BIC and IBAN numbers if you live in an EEA country or Switzerland;
- date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if applicable).
Claims will be accepted until 31 March 2024.
What if you live abroad?
Some people who live outside the UK are still eligible to receive the payment. You must have:
- moved to an eligible country before 1 January 2021;
- were born before 25 September 1957;
- have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK.
A genuine and sufficient link can include having lived or worked in the UK and having family in the UK.
You can be eligible if you live in the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
