Winter Fuel Payment pensioners who must claim DWP, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that some state pensioners will not receive a Winter Fuel Payment of up to £300 this winter unless they ask for it.
Winter Fuel Payments are worth between £100 and £300 and will be paid to pensioners born on or before June 27, 1960, from mid-November, unless they chose to opt out. In most cases, pensioners will receive the payment automatically and should receive the money in November or December.
Eligible pensioners should have received a letter in October or November confirming how much they will get.
However, some pensioners will not get the payment automatically and must ask the DWP for it. According to the DWP, pensioners will need to make a claim if they have deferred their State Pension and do not receive another qualifying DWP benefit, or if the DWP asks them to make a claim.
There are 12 qualifying benefits that mean recipients do not need to claim the Winter Fuel Payment and will receive it automatically, including income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Pensioners who do not receive any of these benefits will need to claim their payment by filling in a claim form and sending it by post, or by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
In fresh guidance published this month, the DWP said: “You will get a letter in October or November explaining what the total amount is and how it will be paid.” The department added that automatic payments will go into the same account as the recipient’s pension or other benefits, with payments made from mid-November 2026 onward.
The DWP also said that if total income is over £35,000 per year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will recover the Winter Fuel Payment through the tax system.
The deadline to opt out of this year’s payment has passed, but pensioners can opt out of next year’s payment from December 21. Opting out does not affect the State Pension, and pensioners do not need to opt out every year.
To receive a payment for winter 2026 to 2027, pensioners who opt back in must contact the service before March 31, 2027.
