Nine million state pensioners in England and Wales will receive the Winter Fuel Payment this year under new eligibility rules announced by the Chancellor. Rachel Reeves today announced that the Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners who were previously denied it following a rule change last year. Millions of households missed out on vital support last winter after Labour limited the payment only to those who claimed Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits in a move aimed at balancing a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances.
The decision to means-test the payment saw the number of pensioners eligible to receive it plummet from around 11.4 million down to just 1.5 million. But now a government U-turn will see the payment restored to millions of pensioners thanks to a change to the eligibility criteria.
Who will get the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025?
New eligibility rules mean that the Winter Fuel Payment for 2025 to 2026 will be made to everyone in England and Wales born before September 22, 1959, unless you choose not to get it.
The government says you will need to have reached State Pension age by the week starting September 15, 2025, in England and Wales to qualify.
All pensioners in England and Wales with an income of, or below, £35,000 per year will get a Winter Fuel Payment, but those with a higher income will see their Winter Fuel Payment clawed back through HMRC.
Payments will be made automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) so you don’t need to do anything to get it. Devolved automatically in Scotland and Northern Ireland will each receive a funding uplift to meet the new threshold.
HM Treasury said: “Eligibility is based on a person’s age and place of residence during the qualifying week (the third full week of September). For winter 2025/26, the qualifying week will be 15 to 21 September 2025. A person needs to have reached State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week to be eligible.”
How much is the Winter Fuel Payment?
The Winter Fuel Payment is worth up to £300 and is given to pensioner households to help cover heating costs during the winter months.
The payment is worth £200 per household, or £300 per household where there is someone over the age of 80.
HM Treasury adds: “From 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payments will be payable in England and Wales at £200 for households including someone between State Pension age and 79, and £300 for households including someone aged 80 or over.
“Where the household is not getting an income related benefit, such as Pension Credit, a shared payment will be made – e.g. a couple, each under 80, not on Pension Credit will receive a payment of £100 each.”
