Winter Fuel payment 2025/26
30 October 2025
Winter Fuel payment eligibility criteria for winter 2025/26
From winter 2025/26, the Government will increase the level at which Winter Fuel Payments are means-tested in England and Wales so that the vast majority of pensioners, around 9 million individuals, will benefit from them.
Payments will be made to all pensioners in England & Wales – but will subsequently be recovered by HMRC through a charge to income tax from pensioners who are not in receipt of Pension Credit or another relevant means-tested benefit and who have annual taxable income above £35,000.
The vast majority of Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically without the need to claim – and for those over the new £35,000 threshold, the Payment will be recovered automatically by HMRC via Pay as You Earn (PAYE) for the majority, or in their Self-Assessment tax return for those who already complete one. No one should need to register for Self-Assessment unless they have other income to report, as is always the case.
More information on eligibility can be found on GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment: Eligibility - GOV.UK
Winter Fuel Payments Scam Texts
Nearly all Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically without the need to claim. DWP have not issued any messages.
DWP never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for Winter Fuel Payment purposes.
If you have any doubt whether a text is genuine, forward it to 7726 (free of charge) and you will receive a reply confirming if it’s legitimate.
You should block the telephone number and delete the message without clicking on any links.