Winter Fuel Payment: How the heating allowance scheme works

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

The Winter Fuel Payment, which is also referred to as the winter fuel allowance or heating allowance, is an annual tax-free payment of between £250 and £600 which helps people born on or before 25 September 1957 to pay for their heating in the winter.

These payments are larger than usual because they include the cost of living payment allocated by the government to help pensioner households through this winter. This is between £150 and £300. The amount may vary depending on whether you or anyone you live with receives one or more of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Income Support.

These payments shouldn't be confused with Cold Weather Payments — which you could receive for spells of particularly cold weather on a weekly basis — or with the Warm Home Discount, which is a rebate applied to electricity bills.

Do I qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment?

You could qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment for the upcoming 2023-2024 season if:

• You were born on or before 25 September 1957

• You'll be living in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19-25 September 2022.

Whether you qualify also depends on a few other factors. You won't qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment if:

• You were in prison for the whole of the week 18-24 September 2023

• You were in hospital getting free treatment for more than 52 weeks

• You need permission to enter the UK under the stipulation that you cannot claim public funds.

You also won't be eligible if you lived in a care home for the whole time between 26 June and 24 September 2023 and also received Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Our interactive tool below can help you find out if you could be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment and other government schemes to help with your energy bills:

How much winter fuel allowance will I receive?

If you live alone:

If you live with someone else who's eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment:

For more information on the types of households that qualify for Winter Fuel Payment, visit Gov.uk's dedicated page.

Do I need to claim my winter fuel allowance or will I be paid automatically?

You don't need to claim your Winter Fuel Payment if you receive at least one of the following benefits:

• State Pension

• Pension Credit

• Attendance Allowance

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

• Carers 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 don't get any of these benefits, you'll need to make a claim if either of the following apply:

• you haven't had the Winter Fuel Payment before

• you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.

How do I apply for the Winter Fuel Payment?

To apply, you will need to download an application form or get a claim form sent to you by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160. Return your completed application form from 18 September 2023 until 31 March 2024 to:

Winter Fuel Payment Centre

Mail Handling Site A

Wolverhampton

WV98 1LR

The Winter Fuel Payment won't affect your other benefits and you won't have to pay Income Tax on it.

What if my situation changes (e.g. moving house)?

You never need to claim winter fuel allowance more than once. Your payments will be given to you every year automatically. If you move house, move overseas, or have someone move in with you, give the Winter Fuel Payment Centre a ring on 0800 731 0160.

How is the Winter Fuel Payment paid?

Most payments will be made automatically in November or December. You’ll get a letter telling you:

• how much you're eligible to receive

• which bank account it will be paid into (usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits).

If you don't receive a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 26 January 2024, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Can I claim winter fuel allowance for past winters?

If you are eligible, you can claim Winter Fuel Payments retrospectively for 1997/98 and 1999/2000. You can't make claims for past winters from 2000/2001 and onwards.

Is any other help available for my gas and electricity bills?

If you don't qualify for benefits like the Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payment or Warm Home Discount, you can at least see if there are cheaper energy deals available (though it's unlikely as long as the energy market remains volatile).

It takes minutes to run a quick comparison of your current plan. All you need is your postcode and tariff name to compare online with Uswitch.