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Pensioners across Britain will get help with heating bills again this winter. The government has brought back Winter Fuel Payment for everyone over State Pension age. This means millions of older people can keep their homes warm without choosing between heating and eating.
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, according to official government guidance.
Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible. You don’t need to fill out forms or make phone calls. The money comes straight to your bank account or Post Office card.
You do not need to do anything – payments will be made automatically, confirms the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
The amount depends on your age and who lives with you:
- Under 80: You get £200 towards your heating bills
- Over 80: You get £300 towards your heating bills
- Living with someone else who qualifies: Your payment might be less
Households with someone between State Pension age and 79 will receive £200, and households with someone over 80 will receive £300.
Any money you get will not affect your other benefits. This heating support sits alongside your pension and other help.
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Here’s how the new system works. Everyone gets the payment first. But If your yearly taxable income is over £35,000, the tax office will ask for it back later.
From winter 2025/26, all people of State Pension age and over will be entitled to receive Winter Fuel Payment, and that it will be recovered by HMRC through the tax system from individuals whose annual income is above £35,000.
While all pensioners will get the payment from this winter, only those pensioners who have earnings on or below £35,000 will keep their payment. Everybody else will have their payment automatically recovered by HMRC.
You can choose not to get the payment at all. This helps if you know you’ll have to pay it back anyway. It saves paperwork later.
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 and 21 September 2025. This is called the qualifying week.
Your situation during this one week in September determines everything. Where you live, your age, your benefits – it all gets checked during these seven days.
It has been confirmed that pensioners in Northern Ireland will be able to receive a Winter Fuel Payment in the same way as those in England and Wales.
Scotland runs its own heating support called Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. You could get a payment of between £101.70 and £305.10. Most eligible people get the payment automatically and do not need to apply.
You won’t be sent a text or email asking for your bank details. You should report any suspicious messages. Real payments happen automatically through official channels.
You’ll get a letter to confirm your payment. Letters will be sent from November 2025. This tells you exactly how much support you’re getting.
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free lump sum payment intended to give older people reassurance they can afford to heat their homes in winter.
With energy bills staying high, this heating support helps pensioners avoid the stark choice between staying warm and buying food. The welfare state exists to protect people when they need it most.
