Winter Fuel Payments

The Government again plans to make Winter Fuel Payments to provide financial help with the costs of keeping warm this winter.

If you are aged 60 to 79 and you are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment, you will get either £125 or £250, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week (15-21 September 2008).

If you are aged 80 or over and you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, you will get either £200 or £400, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week.

You do not pay tax on Winter Fuel Payments.

You should qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment for the winter of 2008/09 if during the qualifying week of 15-21 September 2008, you were:

  • aged 60 or over and
  • normally living in Great Britain or Northern Ireland

Most people get their payment automatically. If you got a payment last year and your circumstances have not changed, you do not need to claim.

If you have not received your payment by Christmas 2008 you should call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline

on 08459 15 15 15

(textphone 0845 601 5613)

Monday - Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

If you need to make a claim for a payment for winter 2008/09, you should return your claim form on or before 30 March 2009.

In line with changes to State Pension age for women, the qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payments will rise gradually between 2010 and 2020, from 60 to 65. This means that from winter 2010/11 onwards, both men and women will need to have reached women's State Pension age by the end of the September qualifying week.

More details are available in a leaflet available from Social Care, Citizen's Advice Bureau and other outlets,

Your Guide to Winter Fuel Payments Your Guide to Winter Fuel Payments [WFPL1] [August 2008] Includes information on qualifying for and claiming a Winter Fuel Payment in the UK, the EEA and Switzerland.

or visit the website at :

www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel for more detailed information and claim forms.