What is it?

The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax free payment to people over pension credit age. For winter 2023 to 2024 this covers people born on or before 25 September 1957.

Despite the name the Winter Fuel Payment is not linked to expenditure on fuel. It is also not means-tested and you can get it whether you are still working or claiming any benefits.

How much will I get?

How much you get depends on your circumstances during the qualifying week. The qualifying week for winter 2023 to 2024 is 18 to 24 September 2023.

For the winter of 2022/23 and 2023/24, due to the increased costs of living, the payments are being increased to the below. These amounts include the £300 extra cost of living payment per household (which may be paid as two lots of £150 if you live with someone who also qualifies).

Most payments will be made automatically in November or December.

Circumstance	Born between25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957	Born before 25 September 1943
You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify)	£500	£600
You qualify and get one of the benefits listed**	£500	£600
You live with someone under 80 who also qualifies	£250	£350
You live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies	£250	£300
You qualify and live with your partner or civil partner and they get one of the benefits listed**	Nil***	Nil***
You qualify but live in a care home and don’t get one of the benefits listed**	£250	£300

** Benefits: Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support

*** Your partner getting the benefit will get the Winter Fuel Payment on your behalf

Who doesn't qualify

You can not get a Winter Fuel Payment if you are in hospital for more than 52 weeks, are in prison for the whole qualifying week or lived in a care home for the whole time from 26 June to 24 September 2023.

You also cannot get it if you need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds.

How do I claim?

You have received a Winter Fuel Payment before

If you have previously received a Winter Fuel Payment and there has been no change to your circumstances, you don’t need to reapply. You should automatically get your payment this year.

You have not received a Winter Fuel Payment before

To apply you can complete a claim form however, claims can not be made until autumn 2023. The deadline is 31 March 2024.

To claim call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 0800 731 0160. Alternatively, you can claim by post using the relevant form based on where you currently live - claim form if you live in the UK or claim form if you live in Switzerland or an eligible EEA country.