Everything about Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment. Who qualifies after the 2024 changes, how much you get, and alternative help with heating costs.
·5 min read
Winter Fuel Payment helps older people with heating costs during winter. The rules changed significantly in 2024 — here’s who now qualifies and what help is available.
Winter Fuel Payment — The 2024 Changes
What Changed
Before 2024
From 2024
All pensioners qualified
Only those on certain benefits
Universal payment
Means-tested (linked to Pension Credit etc)
About 11 million received it
Now around 1.5 million
Who Now Qualifies
Qualifying Benefits
Details
Pension Credit
Main qualifying benefit
Income-based JSA
Income-related type
Income-related ESA
Income-related type
Income Support
If still claiming
Universal Credit
Only with certain elements
You Must Also
Requirement
Details
Be State Pension age
Born on or before qualifying date
Live in UK
During qualifying week (usually September)
Receive qualifying benefit
During qualifying week
Payment Amounts
How Much You Get
Age
Amount
Under 80
£200
80 or over
£300
If You Live With Someone
Situation
Amount
Both qualify, both over 80
£300 split (£150 each)
Both qualify, both under 80
£200 split (£100 each)
Both qualify, one over 80
Higher amount split
One qualifies
Full amount to that person
Care Home Residents
Situation
Amount
In care home, get Pension Credit
Reduced rate
Care home paid by council
Usually not eligible
Self-funding care home
May still qualify
Pension Credit — Check If You’re Eligible
Why It Matters
Reason
Impact
Gateway to Winter Fuel Payment
You need it to qualify
Extra weekly income
Worth claiming anyway
Many don’t claim
About £2bn unclaimed
Pension Credit Basics
Feature
Details
Guarantee Credit
Tops up income to £218.15/week (single)
Savings Credit
Extra if you saved for retirement
Couple rate
£332.95/week minimum
Savings limit
Can have some savings and still qualify
You Might Be Eligible If
Indicator
Details
Weekly income below £218 (single)
Excluding some income
Low State Pension
Didn’t build full entitlement
No private pension
Or small private pension
Partner on low income
Joint assessment
Check and Claim
Step
Details
Use calculator
Gov.uk Pension Credit calculator
Phone
0800 99 1234
Apply online
Gov.uk
Backdating
Can backdate up to 3 months
Cold Weather Payment
What It Is
Feature
Details
Amount
£25 per 7-day period
When paid
Temperature 0°C or below
Trigger
Recorded or forecast in your area
Automatic
No need to apply
Who Gets It
Qualifying Benefits
Details
Pension Credit
Either part
Income-related ESA
With certain premiums
Income-based JSA
With certain premiums
Income Support
With certain premiums
Universal Credit
With LCW/LCWRA or responsibility for child under 5
How It Works
Stage
Details
Temperature drops
Met Office records it
Your postcode checked
Linked to weather station
Payment triggered
Automatically
Payment made
Within 14 days
Multiple cold snaps
Get £25 for each 7-day period
Checking If It’s Been Triggered
Method
Details
Gov.uk
Check Cold Weather Payment alerts
Enter postcode
See if triggered for your area
No need to claim
It’s automatic
Warm Home Discount
What It Is
Feature
Details
Amount
£150 off electricity bill
When
Winter (usually by March)
One-off
Once per winter
Applied to bill
Automatic for most
Who Qualifies
Group
How It Works
Core Group
On Pension Credit Guarantee — automatic
Core Group 2
Low income + high energy costs — may need to apply
Supplier schemes
Some suppliers have own schemes
Important Notes
Note
Details
Not available in Northern Ireland
Different scheme
Check with supplier
For their process
One discount per household
Even if two people qualify
Other Help With Heating
Household Support Fund
Feature
Details
Where from
Your local council
What for
Energy bills, food, essentials
Who qualifies
Low income, financial difficulty
How to apply
Contact council directly
Energy Company Support
Scheme
Details
British Gas Energy Trust
Grants for bills
EDF Customer Support Fund
Help if struggling
Other suppliers
Most have hardship funds
Priority Services Register
Extra support if vulnerable
Priority Services Register
Feature
Details
What it is
Free support service
Who qualifies
Pensioners, disabled, chronically ill
Benefits
Priority in power cuts
Password scheme
Meter reading help
How to register
Contact your supplier
Insulation and Efficiency Grants
Scheme
Details
ECO4
Free insulation for qualifying homes
Great British Insulation Scheme
Cavity wall, loft insulation
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Help with heat pumps
Who qualifies
Usually means-tested benefits or low EPC
How to Get Winter Fuel Payment
If You Get Pension Credit
Step
Details
Usual process
Paid automatically
When
November-December
Where
Into your bank account
No form needed
Uses Pension Credit details
If You Don’t Receive It
If You Think You Qualify
Action
Get Pension Credit
Should have arrived by end of December
Haven’t received it
Contact Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Phone
0800 731 0160
Check eligibility
Ensure you met qualifying week requirements
If You’re Not Getting Pension Credit
First Step
Check eligibility
Use calculator
Gov.uk
Many people miss out
Especially couples
Worth checking
Even with savings
It unlocks WFP
Main benefit now
Living Abroad
If You’ve Moved to EU
Situation
Eligibility
Moved before 2021
May still get WFP (if maintain link)
Moved after 2021
Generally not eligible
Living in EEA
Different rules apply
Countries You Can Receive WFP
Eligible Countries
Details
Some EEA countries
If qualifying conditions met
Switzerland
Some cases
Rules complex
Check gov.uk
Reporting Changes
Tell DWP If
Change
Why
You move
Address updates needed
You move abroad
May affect eligibility
Go into care home
Amount changes
Change bank details
Payment goes to right place
Contact
Purpose
Number
Winter Fuel Payment Centre
0800 731 0160
Pension Credit claims
0800 99 1234
Pension Service general
0800 731 7898
Common Questions
I’m Just Over Pension Credit Threshold
Situation
Options
Close to qualifying
Claim anyway — assessment considers deductions
Extra costs
Housing costs, care needs count
Disability
Premiums may help you qualify
Savings
Can have up to £10,000+ and qualify
My Partner Doesn’t Qualify
Situation
Solution
Joint claim
Assessed together anyway
One works
Their income affects joint claim
Age difference
Can claim Pension Credit when one reaches pension age