Millions of state pensioners should prepare for the upcoming DWP letters confirming the new Winter Fuel Payments to be issued next month. New changes this year mean Winter Fuel Payments will be reinstated for an estimated nine million Brits, and letters confirming the amount they will receive will be distributed from October.
Those born before September 22, 1959, are set to receive a letter outlining their upcoming payment, which will range between £100 and £300. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said these letters will be posted over the course of October and November and that, starting from September 15, those who may need to claim this year’s payment can do so via post or phone call.
Certain conditions mean a person has to claim the payment, and it’s important to know what these are to avoid falling victim to a scam.
Generally, those who are eligible will receive the payment automatically, and texts or emails requesting personal information to claim the benefit should be avoided at all costs. If you do need to claim, you can only do it by phone or post.
Check if you need to claim
According to the DWP, people will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment if they are of qualifying age and are claiming one of the following benefits during the qualifying week of September 15 to September 21, 2025.
You won’t need to claim if you’re receiving any of the following:
- State pension
- Pension credit
- Universal credit
- Attendance allowance
- Personal independence payment (PIP)
- Carer’s 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
If you’re not receiving any of these, you’ll need to make a claim if either of the following apply:
You can only claim by post from September 15, or by phone from October 13. The deadline to claim for winter 2025/26 is March 31, 2026. Full details on how to claim by post or over the phone can be found on GOV.UK here.
Caroline Abrahams CBE, the Charity Director at Age UK, told Express.co.uk: « This winter, approximately 7.5 million more older people will receive a Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales ».
Ms Abrahams added: « The most important thing to know is that older people won’t have to apply for a Winter Fuel Payment this year. Payments will be paid automatically, and only people with no DWP records will need to apply. »
In an effort to alert those ahead of time, she said: « We would urge older people to be cautious about bogus emails, calls or text messages saying you need to apply or give personal information for your Winter Fuel Payment this year. This is not the case ».
This follows the DWP’s warning via social media on fraudulent activity surrounding the Winter Fuel payments, asking pensioners to report the crime to the office.
Age UK added that they are currently « urging any older person living on a low income or struggling with their bills to contact Age UK’s free Advice line on 0800 169 65 65 to check they’re receiving all the financial support available ».
Those unable to call can also visit their website or contact their local Age UK branch for in-person advice. Additionally, their free and anonymous Benefits Calculator tool provides users with an estimated quote of which benefits people could be entitled to.
You will not be eligible for the winter fuel payment if:
- You live outside England and Wales
- You were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to September 21, 2025, and the year before that
- You need permission to enter the UK, and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
- You were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to September 21, 2025
Those living inside a care home could receive this year’s Payment, however, only if both of the following criteria do not apply:
- The pensioner receives either Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- They have lived in a care home since June 23, 2025 or earlier.
