This month, the government announced that a Winter Fuel Payment will be available for winter 2025–26 to individuals in England and Wales who are over State Pension age and have an income of £35,000 or less. The payment will be £200 per household, or £300 per household if someone is over 80.
Please note: If your household doesn’t receive an income-related benefit like Pension Credit and everyone is under 80 years old, the payment will be shared—meaning you’ll receive £100 each, for a total of £200 per household, not £200 per person.
If you are a pensioner, you do not need to register or take any action, you will automatically receive the payment this winter.
If your annual income is over £35,000 the payment will be automatically recovered by HMRC via PAYE or via your Self-Assessment return. The government are also saying that closer to the time there will be an opt out function made available.
This is a change to the scheme, the government are not retrospectively giving the Fuel Payment to those who missed out in winter 2024-25.
More information can be found at www.gov.uk/government/news/nine-million-pensioners-to-receive-winter-fuel-payments-this-winter
