{"id":255840,"date":"2025-07-11T09:38:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T09:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/255840\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T09:38:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T09:38:12","slug":"hmrc-issues-urgent-winter-fuel-payment-warning-to-every-pensioner-due-up-to-300","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/255840\/","title":{"rendered":"HMRC issues urgent Winter Fuel Payment warning to every pensioner due up to \u00a3300"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last month, HMRC acted to remove 4,600 fake websites linked to Winter Fuel Payments.Linda Howard<\/strong><\/a> Money and Consumer Writer and Vicky Shaw, PA Personal Finance Correspondent<\/strong><\/p>\n

07:31, 11 Jul 2025<\/p>\n

Millions of pensioners are being warned to be on high alert for scams linked to Winter Fuel Payments<\/a> after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received 15,100 reports of bogus activity in June. Fraudsters have been targeting vulnerable people using texts and phishing websites.<\/p>\n

Last month, HMRC acted to remove 4,600 fake websites linked to Winter Fuel Payments. The revenue body is urging people to watch out for suspect communications and to report any suspect phone calls, emails or texts via GOV.UK here.<\/a><\/p>\n

HMRC said it will never contact people by text to claim Winter Fuel Payments or request personal information – a statement echoed by the Department for Work and Pensions<\/a> (DWP) last month, shortly after it was announced some 9 million pensioners are set to receive between \u00a3100 and \u00a3300 later this year.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Winter Fuel Payments of up to \u00a3300 may need to be claimed by two groups of pensioners<\/a>READ MORE: People over State Pension age due up to \u00a3524 in one-off payments this year<\/a><\/p>\n

HMRC said anyone who is eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment will receive the money automatically without having to make a claim.<\/p>\n

HMRC added that any recovery of the payment for pensioners whose total income is over \u00a335,000 will be collected via pay as you earn (PAYE) or self-assessment, depending on how the person pays tax on their income.<\/p>\n

Kelly Paterson, HMRC\u2019s chief security officer, said: \u201cDon\u2019t be fooled by these attempts by scammers to take your money or access your personal information.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever let yourself be rushed. If someone contacts you saying they\u2019re HMRC, wanting you to urgently transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard. If a phone call, text or email is suspicious or unexpected, don\u2019t give out private information or reply, and don\u2019t download attachments or click on links.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m urging people to be alert to scams relating to winter fuel payments and to report any suspicious texts, phone calls or emails to HMRC.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winter Fuel Payments in Scotland<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important for older people in Scotland to be aware that they will not receive a Winter Fuel Payment as this has now been replaced by Pension Age Winter Heating Payment<\/a>. This follows similar eligibility criteria to DWP, but will be issued automatically by Social Security Scotland on November 30.<\/p>\n

Full details can be found here<\/a> – just be aware the Scottish Government has not yet updated the pages for winter 2025\/26.<\/p>\n

Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments<\/p>\n

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22, 1959 and live in England or Wales.<\/p>\n

When you will not be eligible<\/p>\n

You will not be eligible if you:<\/p>\n