Winter Fuel Payment 2022: everything you need to know

What is Winter Fuel Payment? How much does it pay? You may be eligible if you are elderly and need help covering heating costs in your housing. This Your Benefits article will walk you through everything you need to know about Winter Fuel Payment.

What is Winter Fuel Payment?

Winter Fuel Payment is a benefit intended to help with heating bills. The payment is awarded to elderly people born on or before 26 September 1955.

You may not need to claim this benefit. If you fulfil certain conditions, it may be awarded to you automatically. It is tax-free. Additionally, the money you receive via Winter Fuel Payment does not impact other benefits.

If you are not eligible for the benefit, you may still earn the Warm Home Discount Scheme or Cold Weather Payment.

Who gets Winter Fuel Payment?

You may receive this benefit if your date of birth is on or earlier than 26 September 1955. You may also earn the benefit automatically. For this to be true, one of the following must apply:

• You receive State Pension;
• You are the recipient of another social security benefit (this does not include the following: Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit or Child Benefit).

Furthermore, you may also automatically receive Winter Fuel Payment if you received the benefit before. This is unless you have moved abroad or deferred your State Pension. Note that you must be eligible to automatically receive the benefit. More information about eligibility below.

You may need to send a claim. This is likely if you live abroad or do not receive any of the benefits listed above. 

You may be unsure if you qualify for Winter Fuel Payment. Your Benefits can help. We offer a free simulator that calculates the total amount of aid you are entitled to. Our advisers are also available to help you reduce your bills.

If you have claimed the benefit for the winter of 2021-2022, you should have already received your payment.

How much will I receive through Winter Fuel Payment?

How much you receive through the benefit may vary, between 100 and 300 pounds. It depends on your situation during ‘qualifying week’ (from 20 to 26 September 2021).

Winter Fuel Payment are awarded automatically. They are paid yearly, in November or December. People who have already claimed Winter Fuel Payment have normally already received the benefit for 2021 to 2022.

You may have been born between 27 September 1941 and 26 September 1955. If so, a couple conditions qualify you for £100 yearly. You will receive this amount if you and the person you live with is eligible. You will also get this amount if you are eligible, reside in a care home and do not get specific benefits (listed below).

How much will I get exactly?

There are certain benefits that will change your eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment. This is the case whether these benefits are earned by you or your partner. They are:

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

When is Winter Fuel Payment paid?

This benefit is paid yearly. You will typically be paid either in the month of November or December. Indeed, if you are eligible to receive it, you should have a payment date written on it. This gives you an idea of when your payments would arrive in your account.

You may not have received a letter. You may also not have received money into your bank account. Furthermore, you may be entitled to Winter Fuel Payment while this is the case. If so, notify the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Am I eligible for Winter Fuel Payment?

Your date of birth must be on 26 September 1955 or after to qualify for Winter Fuel Payment. This is the minimum requirement. On top of your date of birth, you must have lived in the UK for at least one day during ‘qualifying week‘. This is the week from 20 to 26 September 2021. These two requirements are essential to be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment.

If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you may still qualify for this benefit. However, both of the following must apply:

• The country you live in is either in the European Economic Area (EEA), or is Switzerland (there are a few countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) you may not earn Winter Fuel Payment in. This is because of the average winter temperature there. They are Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Cyprus, Gibraltar and Malta);
• You have a genuine or sufficient link to the United Kingdom (this can include multiple things, like having family or having lived or worked in the United Kingdom).

May I be automatically disqualified?

There is a chance that you are automatically not eligible to receive the payment. This may be the case if you:

• Were in prison for the entirety of ‘qualifying week’ (20 to 26 September 2021);
• Received free treatment for over one year;
• Cannot enter the United Kingdom without permission, and you cannot access public funds;
• Resided in a care home from 28 June until 26 September 2021. On top of this, you must have received one of the following benefits:
  • Pension Credit;
  • Income Support;
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA);
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

How to apply for Winter Fuel Payment?

As stated in this article, you may not have to apply. Some people already qualify to receive the benefit automatically. You need to claim the benefit only if the following applies to your situation:

• You do not receive State Pension or certain benefits;
• The only benefits you receive are the following: Child Benefit, Universal Credit, Council Tax Reduction or Housing Benefit;
• You live in a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in Switzerland, and earn State Pension or other benefits.

If you have claimed the benefit before, you typically do not have to claim again. However, you will need to do so if you:

• Deferred and are not yet earning State Pension;
• Are now living in a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Can I apply online?

You may only apply for the benefit over the phone or by post, not online. If you wish to apply by phone, you may do so by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. You may do so by phone at 0800 731 0160, or by textphone at 0800 731 0176.

You will need to prepare the following information prior to your call:

• Your bank information (for those living in Switzerland or an EEA country: your IBAN or BIC number);
• Your National Insurance number;
• If you are in a couple: the date of your marriage or start of a civil partnership.

Furthermore, you may also apply by post. You may send different forms depending on where you currently reside. If you live United Kingdom, you need to fill out the Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents. 

If you do not live in the UK, you may instead reside in an EEA country or Switzerland. In this case, you need to complete the Winter Fuel Payment claim form for EEA or Swiss resident.

If you are a UK national or have dual nationality, you will also need to complete the IPCF091 form. This is unless you live in Ireland.

If you live in the UK, you may send your claim to this address:

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LR

If you live in an EEA country or Switzerland, you may send your claim to this address:

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1ZU
UK

If you are unsure how to proceed with the administrative process, Your Benefits may help. We propose a service to take care of this for you. Additionally, if you are still unsure if you qualify, our free simulator is likely to help you, by calculating all the aid you may be eligible for.

Report a change in my situation

As a rule of thumb, you should always report a change in your situation if you are earning a benefit. Your Winter Fuel Payment might change if your situation changes.
Notify the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you:

• Experience a change in personal details or home address;
• Have a change in your circumstances;
• Do not wish to receive future payments;
• Would like to refund a payment;
• Do not earn certain benefits any more.

If you gave incorrect information, you may have to pay back money that you have received. This is also the case if you have been paid too much accidentally, or did not notify the Centre of relevant changes.