An important deadline is looming for individuals who have not yet received their Winter Fuel Payment. The payment, which can reach up to £300, is distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to individuals above the state pension age. Those earning over £35,000 annually are required to repay the payment through the tax system.
While most people typically receive their Winter Fuel Payment in November or December, if you have not received it by January 28, 2026, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. You can reach them by calling the helpline at 0800 731 0160 or sending a letter to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
According to information on GOV.UK, if you have not received a letter or the payment by January 28, 2026, you should get in touch with the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. Payments are automatically made to individuals born before September 22, 1959, who claimed specific benefits during the qualifying week of September 15 to 21, 2025.
If you did not claim the mentioned benefits, you can still apply for the Winter Fuel Payment by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre via post or phone before March 31, 2026. Certain eligibility criteria apply, such as not being in hospital for the entire qualifying week or being in prison during that time.
In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been substituted with the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, which ranges from £101.70 to £305.10.