What is it?

The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax free payment to people over pension credit age. For winter 2019 to 2020 this covers people born on or before 5 April 1954. This date changes every year as female state pension age rises. Despite the name the Winter Fuel Payment is not linked to expenditure on fuel.

How much will I get?

How much you get depends on your circumstances during the qualifying week. The qualifying week for winter 2019 to 2020 is 16 to 22 September 2019.

Circumstance	Born between 23 September 1939 and 5 April 1954	Born on or before 22 September 1939
You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify)	£200	£300
You qualify and get one of the benefits listed**	£200	£300
You live with someone under 80 who also qualifies	£100	£200
You live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies	£100	£150
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**	£100	£150

** 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

Can I get it?

In 2019/20 Winter Fuel Payments will be made to individuals born on or before 5 April 1954 (or couples where one person was born on or before this date).

As well as being over pension credit age you must normally live in the UK throughout the week of 16 to 22 September 2019.

You can not get a Winter Fuel Payment if you are in hospital for more than 52 weeks or living in a care home and have been doing so for more than 12 weeks.

The Winter Fuel Payment is not means tested and you can get it if you’re still working or claiming a benefit.

Winter Fuel Payments are affected by the increase in retirement age for women, which is going up gradually from 60 to 65. For more information see changes to state pension age.

The qualifying date for the 80+ Winter Fuel Payment amount is that you have reached the age of 80 on the third Monday in September.

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. Claims must be made by 31 March 2020.

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.