A winter fuel payment can help you pay your heating bills. If you are eligible you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a 'Winter Fuel Payment'.

If you were born on or before 25 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

You’ll usually get this automatically if you are eligible and get State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Child Benefit or Universal Credit). If you’re eligible but don’t get paid automatically, you will need to make a claim.

Deadline for winter 2022

If you’ve got a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to claim again unless you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved abroad. The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2022 to 2023 is 31 March 2023.

When you’ll be paid

Most payments are made automatically in November or December. You should be paid by 13 January 2023. If you do not get your payment, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Any money you get will not affect your other benefits. Winter Fuel Payments are different to Cold Weather Payments.

Cost of Living Support Payment

The amount you’ll get includes your ‘pensioner cost of living payment’. This is between £150 and £300. You’ll only get this extra amount in winter 2022 to 2023. This is as well as any payment you get with your benefit or tax credits.

If you live in Northern Ireland

If you live in Northern Ireland and want to claim you can do this by phone:

• Winter Fuel Payment Centre 

You can also claim by post, by downloading and completing the Winter Fuel Payment application form below and posting to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre:

• Download the Winter Fuel Payment application form