DWP Winter Fuel Payment deadline this month for pensioners

Most pensioners should received their Winter Fuel Payment in November or December – but anyone who still hasn’t seen a payment by January 28, 2026 should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre from this date.

If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible.

Who has to pay the Winter Fuel Payment back?

If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back.

This follows changes last summer, in which Chancellor Rachel Reeves told reporters that “more people will get winter fuel payment this winter”.

The means-testing of pensioners’ winter fuel payments is an issue which has been blamed for contributing to Labour’s poor performance in last year’s local elections and by-elections.

Nine million pensioners across England and Wales will receive between £100 and £300 this winter.

The amount pensioners are paid will be dependent on whether they live as a couple, if they are entitled to other benefits and whether or not they live in a care home.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said people should also be on their guard against fraudsters posing as government officials or payment providers to trick people into sharing their personal information.

Recommended reading:

Winter Fuel Payment scams have surged this year

Pensioners are being urged to continue to look out for these scam messages and remember that they will never be asked to provide bank details to receive the payment.

Anyone who receives a text message inviting them to apply for a payment should not engage with it, including clicking on links, and instead forward it to 7726, the Government said.

Very pleased to just hear the Prime Minister has just said he wants more state pensioners to get Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) and they will work out what they’re doing in time for the budget.

As I’ve said since day one, there are two main problems with the way the means testing…

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) May 21, 2025

Pensions minister Torsten Bell said: “Remember to stay alert to scam texts, the Government will never ask you to share personal information or click on links to claim your payment.”

Pensioners on low incomes can also apply for further support through pension credit – worth around £4,300 on average a year – while those with care needs can apply for attendance allowance, worth up to £5,740 a year in some cases.

The Government previously announced plans to restrict eligibility for winter fuel payments, but this was later rowed back on, with payments being restored to the vast majority of pensioners who had previously received them.