Winter Fuel Payment 2025: The four pensioner groups who don't get heating allowance payments as DWP confirms eligibility

• The Winter Fuel Payment returns for 2025, offering £200–£300 to pensioners

• Eligible pensioners are born before September 22, 1959 and earn under £35,000

• Four groups of pensioners will not qualify, including some care home residents and those abroad

• Payments are automatic, with letters arriving in October or November

• Higher earners may need to repay the money through tax adjustments

Many pensioners across England and Wales will receive a welcome financial boost this winter, as the Government reinstates the Winter Fuel Payment following last year’s controversial cuts.

The move, confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), will see around nine million older adults, who are eligible for the payments, receive between £200 to £300 to help cover rising heating costs.

But not everyone who meets the age threshold will get a payout, with officials highlighting four specific groups who remain ineligible.

Who qualifies for the Winter Fuel Payment this year?

The Winter Fuel Payment is aimed at those born before September 22, 1959, with eligibility primarily based on age and income - pensioners with a taxable income of £35,000 or less will automatically receive the payment.

This represents a significant easing from last year, when the benefit became heavily means-tested, reducing eligibility to those on certain benefits and effectively limiting access to households earning less than £11,600 annually.

Eligible pensioners can expect a letter from the DWP in October or November outlining the exact amount of their Winter Fuel Payment.

Those with incomes above £35,000 may still receive the money, but HM Revenue & Customs will reclaim it either via changes to their 2026-27 tax code or through their 2025-26 Self Assessment tax return.

Who doesn’t qualify?

Even with the income and age criteria met, there are four groups of pensioners who will not receive the Winter Fuel Payment this year:

People living outside England or Wales – Scottish residents are excluded, though they may be eligible for the Scottish Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. Northern Ireland residents might receive a similar payment from the Northern Ireland Executive, under comparable rules.

Those in hospital or prison during a key week – If you spent the entire week of September 15 to 21, 2025 in hospital receiving free treatment, or in prison during the same week, you are not eligible.

Care home residents with certain benefits – Pensioners living in a care home will not qualify if they also receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and have lived in the care home continuously from June 23, 2025 or earlier.

People with restricted immigration status – Those whose leave to remain in the UK explicitly states they cannot claim public funds will also be excluded, even if all other criteria are met.

Why you should check your eligibility

Pensioners are encouraged to check their eligibility carefully and monitor any correspondence from the DWP in the autumn. With energy prices still high, the Winter Fuel Payment provides vital support for many older households.

Ofgem, the energy regulator, has confirmed that from October 1, the energy price cap for a typical household in England, Scotland, and Wales will rise by 2%, equating to roughly £2.93 more per month for households on default tariffs.

This brings the average annual energy cost for a household paying by Direct Debit to around £1,755 – a 26% reduction from the peak of the energy crisis in early 2023, but still a significant financial burden for many.

For those over 65 in England and Wales, the Winter Fuel Payment represents a critical buffer against those rising winter bills.

For households on the cusp of the £35,000 income limit, it’s also important to remember that any payment received may need to be repaid through tax adjustments.