Winter Fuel Payment: are you owed up to £300 before the DWP 28 January 2026 deadline

As the 28 January 2026 deadline draws closer, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a renewed reminder to state pensioners who were expecting a Winter Fuel Payment but have not yet received it. According to official guidance published on GOV.UK, the vast majority of eligible households were paid automatically between November and December 2025. However, the department confirms that anyone still without the payment must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before the cut-off date to avoid missing out. Reports The WP Times, citing information published on the UK government website.

Crucially, the 28 January deadline applies only to cases where an automatic payment is missing. A separate deadline of 31 March 2026 applies to pensioners who are required to submit a claim for the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2025/26, the DWP confirms.

What is the 28 January 2026 DWP deadline and who does it affect

The 28 January 2026 deadline is not a general cut-off for all Winter Fuel Payment claims. Instead, it functions as a follow-up safeguard for state pensioners who were due to receive the payment automatically but have not seen the money credited to their bank account. According to official guidance published on GOV.UK, the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2025/26 is issued automatically in the vast majority of cases. Eligible pensioners should normally have received:

• a notification letter confirming entitlement and payment amount in October or November 2025, and
• the payment itself, deposited directly into their bank or building society account, by December 2025.

The DWP states that if neither the letter nor the payment has been received by 28 January 2026, affected individuals should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre without delay. The purpose of the deadline is to allow the department to identify administrative errors, verify eligibility, and issue any outstanding payments before the winter support window closes. Importantly, the department stresses that no penalty applies for missing this date if a claim was never required. However, failure to act where an automatic payment has gone missing could result in the support being delayed or overlooked entirely.

At a glance: key Winter Fuel Payment deadlines

The DWP underlines that the 28 January deadline does not replace the standard claim deadline. Pensioners who are required to make a claim — typically those who have never received the payment before or who deferred their State Pension — still have until 31 March 2026 to apply for winter 2025/26 support.

Who qualifies for Winter Fuel Payment in winter 2025/26

Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment in winter 2025/26 is determined primarily by age, place of residence and personal circumstances during a fixed assessment period, known as the qualifying week. According to guidance issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), you will usually qualify for the payment if both of the following conditions are met:

• you were born before 22 September 1959, and
• you were living in England or Wales during the qualifying week.

For winter 2025/26, the qualifying week runs from 15 to 21 September 2025. The DWP uses this specific period to assess entitlement, as well as to determine how much support an individual or household should receive. Crucially, it is not your situation at the time of payment that matters, but your living arrangements and benefit status during the qualifying week. Factors such as whether you lived alone, shared a household with another eligible person, or were living in a care home during that week can directly affect the amount paid.

The DWP also confirms that the Winter Fuel Payment is not means-tested and that receiving it does not reduce or affect other benefits, including the State Pension, Pension Credit or Universal Credit. states that the payment does not affect other benefits, including Pension Credit or Universal Credit.

How much is the Winter Fuel Payment worth

The Winter Fuel Payment is not a single fixed amount. For winter 2025/26, payments range from £100 to £300, depending on date of birth, household composition and living arrangements during the qualifying week. The government sets different rates to reflect whether an eligible person lives alone, shares a household with another eligible adult, or resides in a care home.

Winter Fuel Payment amounts for 2025/26

Where two eligible people live together, only one Winter Fuel Payment is made per household, rather than one per person. In most cases, the payment is made to the individual who receives the State Pension or Pension Credit, although the money is intended to support the household’s overall heating costs.

Lower amounts apply to some people living in care homes, reflecting different heating arrangements and state support structures. The exact figure within the £100–£150 range depends on age and circumstances during the qualifying week. The payment is tax-free, not means-tested, and does not affect entitlement to other benefits. It is designed as a contribution towards winter energy bills, rather than a full reimbursement of heating costs.

Do you need to claim, or is the Winter Fuel Payment paid automatically

In most cases, no claim is required. The Winter Fuel Payment is paid automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to eligible pensioners who receive certain benefits.

You normally do not need to claim if you receive any of the following:

• State Pension
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• War Pensions Scheme payments

In these cases, the DWP states that the payment is usually issued automatically, without the need for an application, provided eligibility conditions were met during the qualifying week.

You may need to claim if all of the following apply:

• you have never received a Winter Fuel Payment before, or
• you deferred your State Pension after receiving your last Winter Fuel Payment, and
• you were not receiving any of the benefits listed above during the qualifying week (15–21 September 2025).

The DWP advises that pensioners who fall into these categories should check their status carefully, as failing to submit a claim where required could result in the payment being missed.

What to do if your Winter Fuel Payment is missing

If you believe you were eligible but have not received your payment, or if you need to make a claim, the DWP recommends contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre directly using official government channels.

Winter Fuel Payment Centre – contact details

When making contact, the DWP advises having the following information ready:

• your National Insurance number,
• bank or building society details,
• details of any marriage or civil partnership changes, where relevant.

Important warning about scams

The DWP and consumer protection bodies warn that benefit deadlines frequently lead to impersonation scams, particularly targeting older people. Pensioners are advised to:

• use only official GOV.UK contact details,
• ignore unsolicited calls, texts or emails requesting bank or personal information,
• remember that the DWP never charges fees to release Winter Fuel Payments.

If there is any uncertainty, pensioners are encouraged to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre directly using the official phone number rather than responding to third-party messages.

Why the Winter Fuel Payment matters in winter 2026

With energy prices remaining volatile and many pensioners living on fixed or limited incomes, the Winter Fuel Payment continues to play a crucial role in helping households meet heating costs during the coldest months of the year. The DWP has stressed that eligible pensioners should not miss out due to administrative delays, particularly where a missed automatic payment can be resolved by timely contact before the relevant deadline.arly when a simple follow-up before 28 January 2026 could unlock up to £300 in support.

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