DWP confirms exact Winter Fuel Payment amount as some pensioners only eligible for £100

The amount you receive depends on your age and how many people are in your household

17:33, 10 Oct 2025Updated 17:39, 10 Oct 2025

Payments will be made in November and December(Image: inyourArea)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has clarified the exact amount of Winter Fuel Payment that eligible pensioners will receive this winter. Some will only qualify for a £100 payment, according to the Government body.

Around three-quarters of all state pensioners are eligible for the payment, which is intended to help pensioners keep their house warm over the colder months.

It comes after the Government announced its U-turn on the payments in June, meaning nine million pensioners in England and Wales will receive the Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP this winter.

Payments were slashed last year as they became means tested for the first time, with only those on certain benefits receiving the payment. The move essentially lowered the income threshold to just £11,600, according to MoneySavingExpert.

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Under the new changes, pensioners who earn less than £35,000 a year are entitled to a payment of either £200 or £300 but pensioners who are in a couple may only receive £100 due to the new income threshold.

How much will pensioners get?

This year, Winter Fuel Payments will be made to everyone in England and Wales born before September 22, 1959.

However, anyone who is over the income threshold of £35,000 will have their payment recovered by HMRC through the tax system.

The amount you get depends on your age and how many people are in your household. For example, a household is eligible for the higher amount of £300 if it includes someone who is over the age of 80.

Households with people who are above State Pension age but younger than 80 will be eligible for the lower amount of £200.

One payment will be made per household, unless they are on an income-related benefit such as Pension Credit. Pensioners who are claiming Pension Credit are entitled to an individual payment, the DWP has confirmed.

In cases where one member of a household is above the income threshold and the other is not, the household will only get part of the payment.

For example, a couple who both fall below the income threshold and are both under 80, with neither receiving Pension Credit, will get a payment of £200.

However, if one person’s income is above the £35,000 threshold, their half of the payment will be clawed back through the tax system. Therefore, the eligible person will get just £100.

The payments are split for couples based on age. So if both people are over 80, the split will be £150 each.

According to the gov.uk website, you can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. 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 June 23, 2025 or earlier