DWP issues new Winter Fuel Payment warning to all pensioners

Around nine million pensioners will receive between £100 and £300 to help with winter energy bills.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is warning all pensioners to be on the lookout for fake text messages relating to ‘opting out’ of this year’s Winter Fuel Payments. The only way for people over State Pension age to opt out of receiving payments of up to £300 is to call the helpline before September 12, or complete the online form before September 14, 2025.

In a new post on social media, DWP said: “Beware! Scammers could be trying to steal from you by sending messages about the Winter Fuel Payment and opting out.

“Don’t click or tap any links – check the facts about opting out before the 15 Sep 2025 deadline on the http://GOV.UK website.”

READ MORE: Full list of Winter Fuel Payment dates and amounts due for every pensioner householdREAD MORE: Pensioners in Scotland may need to claim devolved heating payments of up to £305

These ‘phishing scams’ enable crooks to hook innocent victims by sending convincing looking fake messages purporting to be government agencies like the DWP.

But they are simply a ploy to lure people to click on a link which can take them to a fake website – which may appear completely genuine – and enter their personal and financial details, unknowingly giving criminals access to sensitive data.

The DWP message is clear – the majority of Winter Fuel Payments will be issued automatically, only a small number of pensions need to make a claim.

Guidance on GOV.UK confirms there are two specific groups of people who may need to claim this year’s Winter Fuel Payment, but it’s important to be aware this can only be done by post or over the phone.

The DWP recently confirmed that the 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payment qualifying period will be the week of September 15-21. One-off payments of between £100 and £300 will be issued automatically to around nine million people in England and Wales over November and December.

Similarly, older people in Scotland will receive automatic payments of up to £305.10 through the devolved Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) from November. These payments will be issued by Social Security Scotland.

Check if you need to claim

DWP said most people will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible during the qualifying week, which is September 15 – 21, 2025.

You do not need to claim if you get any of the following:

State PensionPension CreditUniversal CreditAttendance AllowancePersonal Independence Payment (PIP)Carer’s AllowanceDisability Living Allowance (DLA)Income Supportincome-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)awards from the War Pensions SchemeIndustrial Injuries Disablement BenefitIncapacity BenefitIndustrial Death Benefit

If you do not get any of these, you need to claim if either of the following apply:

you’ve not had the Winter Fuel Payment beforeyou’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment

How to claim

You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:

post – from September 15, 2025phone – from October 13, 2025

The deadline to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is March 31, 2026.

Full details on how to claim by post or over the phone can be found on GOV.UK here.

Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22, 1959 and live in England or Wales.

When you will not be eligible

You will not be eligible if you:

live outside England and Waleswere in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and the year before thatneed permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public fundswere in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025If you live in a care home

You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home, however, you will not be eligible if both of the following apply:

you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)you lived in a care home for the whole time from 23 June 2025 or earlierPayments

DWP guidance explains: “You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible.

“If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.”

It’s important to be aware that scammers may try and trick you into making a claim by text, prompting you to click on a link. This is not an official DWP message and should be deleted. If you think you need to claim, follow the guidance on GOV.UK here.

The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 to 21 September 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’. Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.

If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

You will get either:

£200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959£300 if you were born before September 22, 1945If you live with someone else who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:

Pension CreditUniversal Creditincome-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)Income SupportIf you do not get any of the benefits

You will get a payment of:

£100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959£100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 but the person you live with was born before September 22, 1945£200 if you were born before September 22, 1945 but the person you live with was born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959£150 if you and the person you live with were born before September 22, 1945If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits

One of you will get a payment of either:

£200 if both of you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959£300 if one or both of you were born before September 22, 1945

The money will be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into.

If you get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim)

You will get a payment of either:

£200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959£300 if you were born before September 22, 1945If your income is more than £35,000

HMRC will take back all of your Winter Fuel Payment through either PAYE or your Self Assessment tax return.

If you live in a care home

If you are eligible you’ll get either:

£100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959£150 if you were born before September 22, 1945When you will get paid

DWP said most payments will be made automatically in November or December.

You should get a letter telling you:

how much you’ll getwhich bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits

DWP added: “If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”

Opting out of Winter Fuel Payment

You can choose to opt out of getting all future Winter Fuel Payments. To opt out you need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before September 15, 2025.

Full details on what you will need before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre can be found on GOV.UK here.

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