DWP issues 'beware' warning to millions of people ahead of Winter Fuel Payments
Winter Fuel Payments are worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has urged people to be aware of scammers messaging about the Winter Fuel Payment.
Winter Fuel Payments are worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80. They are paid normally in November and December to pensioners who were born before September 22, 1959.
If you earn over £35,000, you'll still be sent the payment, but you'll have to pay it back through the tax system. You can choose to opt out of receiving the payment altogether, but this can only be done through the official GOV.UK website or by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by post or telephone.
If you are thinking of opting out, you must do so by September 15, 2025. On X, formerly known as Twitter, the 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 https://gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment."
The income eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment is based per person. For example, if you earn £30,000 a year and your partner earns £40,000, one person would keep their share of the Winter Fuel Payment but the other would pay it back.
If you are claiming one of these benefits during the qualifying week - which for this year is September 15 to 21, 2025 - then you will receive your Winter Fuel Payment automatically:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Awards from the War Pensions Scheme
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Death Benefit
If you do not get any of these benefits, then you will need to put in a claim if you’ve never receive a Winter Fuel Payment before, or you’ve deferred your state pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.
If you do need to claim, you will be able to apply by post from September 15, or by phone from October 15. Your eligibility will be based on your age by the end of the qualifying week.
You won't be eligible if you were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the qualifying week, and the year before that, or if you were in prison during the qualifying week.
You also weren't eligible if you lived in a care home for the whole time from June 23, 2025 or earlier and you claim certain benefits including Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced with a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
