State pensioners will be eligible for this year’s payments if they were born before June 27, 1960 and live in England or Wales.
DWP sending automatic bonus payments to state pensioners born before 1960
The Department for Work and Pensions is sending automatic bonus payments to state pensioners born before 1960 this winter. The DWP has confirmed the return of the £300 Winter Fuel Payment.
State pensioners will be eligible for this year’s payments if they were born before June 27, 1960 and live in England or Wales. Older people between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, will get £200.
Older state pensioners born before September 28, 1946, will get £300, the DWP has also confirmed. To get the payment automatically, you need to be on the State Pension or Pension Credit or Universal Credit.
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Other ways you don’t have to claim are if you’re in receipt of Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from the DWP, or Carer’s Allowance.
The payments are also handed automatically to those on Disability Living Allowance (DLA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or awards from the War Pensions Scheme.
And there’s no need to claim if you receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or Incapacity Benefit or Industrial Death Benefit either.
The DWP said: “Most payments are made automatically in November or December. You should get a letter telling you how much you’ll get and which bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits.
“If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”
The return of the allowance for retirees follows a dramatic u-turn from the Labour Party government.
The DWP and Labour paid out the payments last winter, too, after a 2024 which saw a huge backlash to the decision to begin to means test.
The DWP has confirmed the rates now the tax year for 2026/27 has began.