9 million state pensioners born earlier than 22 September 1959 advised verify financial institution accounts on Wednesday January 28

Pensioners born before key date should get between £200 and £300 to help pay heating bills this winter

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The UK Government has issued a warning for people to examine their bank accounts on Wednesday January 28. Around 9 million state pensioners should have received their winter fuel payment by that date.

However, Treasury officials have stated that if eligible individuals haven’t received the money by then, they must get in touch with the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves implemented significant changes to the eligibility criteria for Winter Fuel Payments in 2025. In 2024, only those claiming Pension Credit were entitled – focusing on some of the nation’s most financially vulnerable people.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that an extra nine million pensioners would receive the payment – valued at between £100 and £300. The key date to remember is 22 September 1959.

Anyone born before this date could be entitled to between £100 and £300 towards their winter heating bills for 2025 to 2026. Approximately 9 million people will benefit this year – although some individuals earning over £35,000 will be required to repay the sum through tax.

The Winter Fuel Payment offers financial support towards heating bills for people living in England and Wales. Households with someone aged between State Pension age and 79 will get £200, whilst those with a member aged over 80 will get £300.

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Ms Reeves’ decision to reverse her previous reduction will cost roughly £1.25 billion across England and Wales, with means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment delivering savings of approximately £450 million. Pensioners needn’t fret about taking any steps as the payment will be automatically issued this winter.

For those with earnings exceeding the threshold, the sum will be automatically recovered through HMRC. The payment of £200 per household, or £300 for households containing someone aged over 80, will be automatically processed this winter.

Qualifying individuals should have received correspondence last month or by the end of November outlining the sum they’ll receive.

Eligibility

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before 22 September 1959 and live in England or Wales.

When you will not be eligible

You will not be eligible if you:

• live outside England and Wales
• were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and the year before that
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025

If you live in a care home

You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. You will not be eligible if both of the following apply:

• you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• you lived in a care home for the whole time from 23 June 2025 or earlier

How much you’ll get

You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible.

If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.

The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 and 21 September 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’.

Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.

If your income is over £35,000

HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back by either:

• changing your tax code for the 2026 to 2027 tax year
• adding the amount to your 2025 to 2026 Self Assessment tax return

If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

You’ll get either:

• £200 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
• £300 if you were born before 22 September 1945

If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support

If you do not get any of the benefits

You’ll get a payment of:

• £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
• £100 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 but the person you live with was born before 22 September 1945
• £200 if you were born before 22 September 1945 but the person you live with was born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
• £150 if you and the person you live with were born before 22 September 1945

If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits

One of you will get a payment of either:

• £200 if both of you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
• £300 if one or both of you were born before 22 September 1945

You’ll be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into.

If you get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim)

You’ll get a payment of either:

• £200 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
• £300 if you were born before 22 September 1945

If you live in a care home

If you’re eligible you’ll get either:

• £100 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
• £150 if you were born before 22 September 1945

When you’ll get paid

Most payments are made automatically in November or December.

You should get a letter telling you:

• how much you’ll get
• which bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits

If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Reinstating the payment Ms Reeves said: “Targeting Winter Fuel Payments was a tough decision, but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government. It is also right that we continue to means-test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest.

“But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. This will mean over three quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.”

Pensioners above the £35,000 threshold will have the full amount of the Winter Fuel Payment they received automatically collected via PAYE, or via their Self-Assessment return. No one will need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action.

If you want to opt out of getting the Winter Fuel Payment

The deadline for opting out of the Winter Fuel Payment for 2025 to 2026 has passed.

If your income is over £35,000 and you did not opt out, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You cannot return it yourself. You can check how HMRC will take it back.

You can opt out of getting the Winter Fuel Payment for 2026 to 2027 onwards from 1 April 2026.