Winter Fuel Payments
- Who can get Winter Fuel Payments?
- Do any savings you have affect the payment of Winter Fuel Payments?
- How to claim Winter Fuel Payments
- When are payments made?
- Disputes and appeals
A Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free payment made to eligible people aged 60 or over to help towards their winter heating costs. People aged 80 or over are paid an extra amount. It is a lump sum and in most cases is paid automatically, but some people will need to claim. It is a regulated payment and not subject to a budget. As long as you fulfil the conditions below you will be paid.
Who can get Winter Fuel Payments?
You could qualify if you normally live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland and are aged 60 or over during a specified qualifying week which is the week commencing with the third Monday in September each year. For example, the qualifying week for winter 2008/09 is 15 – 21 September 2008.
You will not be able to get a Winter Fuel Payment if during the qualifying week you:
- live in a care home, an independent hospital or Ilford Park Polish Resettlement Home (and have been for the preceding 12 weeks or more), and get income-based Job seeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit
- have been in hospital getting free in-patient treatment for more than 52 weeks
- are in custody serving a sentence set by a court
- are subject to immigration control and not able to get help from the Department for Work and Pensions
If you are living with a partner who is getting Pension Credit or income-based Job seeker’s Allowance, any Winter Fuel Payment will be paid to them. This applies to married couples, civil partners and people living together as if they are married or civil partners.
Do any savings you have affect the payment of Winter Fuel Payments?
No. Savings do not affect Winter Fuel Payments.
How to claim Winter Fuel Payments
If you got a payment last year or you will be getting a State Pension or other social security benefit (but not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit) during the qualifying week you will not usually need to claim. Otherwise you will need to make a claim.
All claims must reach the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by the 30th March following the winter being claimed for.
You can get a claim form if you need one, by ringing the Winter Fuel Payment help line on 08459 15 15 15 (08545 601 5613 for text phone users), or you can get a copy from the DWP web site www.dwp.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can get a copy from The Pension Service web site www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel.
When are payments made?
If you got a Winter Fuel Payment last winter, you should automatically get a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter as long as your circumstances have not changed and you satisfy the conditions.
All automatic Winter Fuel Payments should be made by Christmas. If you have not had a Winter Fuel Payment by then, you should call the office that pays your benefit or call the Winter Fuel Payment help line.
If you are making a claim, you should return your claim form as soon as possible. See “How to claim Winter Fuel Payments”. We expect to make payments by Christmas for successful claims that we receive by the Friday of the September qualifying week. We cannot guarantee a payment by Christmas if your claim is received after this.
If you make a successful claim for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter and remain eligible, you should get your payment automatically in the future, as long as you let us know about any changes in your circumstances.
Disputes and appeals
If you want to know more about the decision or if you think it is wrong
Please get in touch with The Pension Service within one month of the date of the decision letter. If you contact us later we may not be able to help you.
You, or someone else who has the authority to act on your behalf, can
- ask for an explanation
- ask for a written statement of reasons for our decision
- ask us to look again at the decision to see if it can be changed. There may be some facts you think we have overlooked or you may have more information which affects the decision.
- appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal (but this must be in writing).
You can do any of the actions listed above, or you can do all of them.
You can find more information about decision making and appeals in leaflet GL24 If you think our decision is wrong - available from The Pension Service or any Jobcentre Plus office or from the DWP website.