The Department of Work and Pensions confirmed the winter fuel payment application date and deadline for state pensioners, as the qualifying week ended 21 September 2025. If you are a state pensioner and wondering about the WFP benefit, you can find the full details here.
DWP Winter Fuel Payment Date Confirmed
The UK government has restored or reversed the previous decision on the Winter Fuel payment on 11 June 2025, and now around nine million pensioners in Wales and England will receive the payout for the 2025-26 winter.
The eligible pensioners will receive the payment automatically, which will be sent around November or December 2025. The DWP has updated the WFP benefit guidelines for the 2025-26 winter and will start sending letters to the eligible pensioners in October 2025 that will notify you about the following:
- Your WFP payout
- Bank account where you will receive the payment.
However, for those who do not receive the letter, you can claim the WFP benefit before 31 March 2026; the application period is open for pensioners applying via post, whereas if you are applying via phone, you can claim from 31 March 2026.
| WFP 2025-26 | Important Dates |
| Notice | October 2025 |
| Automatic payment | November or December 2025 |
| Application begins for those who do not receive the letter | Post: 15 September 2025 Phone: 13 October 2025 |
| Application Deadline | 31 March 2026 |
Who will receive the WFP for 2025-26?
The Winter Fuel Payment supports state pensioners in paying their winter heating bill, so if you are hoping for the payment this winter, you can check the eligibility conditions below:
- You were born before 22 September 1959 and reside in Wales and England; you could receive the payment.
- If you live in a care home, you can get the benefit; however, if you receive the Pension Credit, JSA, Universal Credit, ESA, and have lived in the care home from 23 June 2025 or earlier, you will not be entitled to the payment.
Exclusion:
- You will not receive the payment if you live outside Wales and England.
- You were living in a hospital and got the free treatment during the qualifying week, 15 to 21 September 2025.
- You were in prison during qualifying week, or you need permission to enter the UK, and your granted leave says that you cannot receive any public funds.
When to claim the WFP 2025-26?
You will receive the automatic WFP payment if you receive any of the following benefits from the DWP:
- State Pension
- Universal Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Carer’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Disability Living Allowance
- IESA
- JSA
- Incapacity Benefit
- Awards from the War Pensions Scheme
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Industrial Death Benefit
However, if you do not receive any of the above benefits, you will need to apply for the WFP payment before the deadline, if you have never received the WFP payout, and since your last WFP payment, you have deferred your state pension.
How much will you receive from WFP 2025-26?
The Department of Work Pensions will process the WFP payout based on the year you were born and your situation during the qualifying week. Here you can check the WFP payout amount for 2025-26 based on your birth year and circumstances:
| Birth Year | Circumstances | Payout Amount |
| Birth date between 22 Sept 1945 and 21 Sept 1959 | Living alone or not, one who lives with you is eligible for the WFP | £200 |
| Born Before 22 September 2025 | £300 | |
| Where both were Born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 | Live with someone who is eligible for the WFP | £100 |
| When you were born between 22 Sept 1945 and 21 Sep 1945, but the person you live with was born before 22 Sept 1945 | £100 | |
| Born before 22 Sept 1945, but the person you live with was born between 22 Sept 1945 and 21 Sept 1959 | £200 | |
| When you and the person you live with were born before 22 Sept 1945 | £150 | |
| Birth date between 22 Sept 1945 and 21 Sept 1959 | When a couple jointly claims the benefits | £200 |
| Born Before 22 September 2025 | £300 | |
| Birth date between 22 Sept 1945 and 21 Sept 1959 | When you receive any benefit but no jointly | £200 |
| Born Before 22 September 2025 | £300 | |
| Born Before 22 September 2025 | Live in a care home | £150 |
| Birth date between 22 Sept 1945 and 21 Sept 1959 | £100 |
How to claim the WFP 2025-26?
If you need to claim the WFP 2025-26 payment, you can claim it either through post or phone with your national insurance number, bank or building society details, or other details in the following ways:
- Post:
- Download the Winter Fuel Payment claim form and post it to the following address:
- Winter Fuel Payment Centre
- Mail Handling Site A
- Wolverhampton
- WV981LR
- Phone:
- You can call the WFP Centre at 0800 731 0160 or textphone at before dialing 18001.
The DWP will begin sending the notice for the WFP in October 2025, and the eligible pensioners should stay vigilant for the notice. If you do not receive it, you can claim it before the deadline.
Disclaimer: The DWP Winter Fuel Payment date information is for general awareness. Final schedules and eligibility are confirmed only by the Department for Work and Pensions.
