Overview

• Eligibility is now fixed for people born on or before 22 September 1959 based on circumstances in the qualifying week of 15–21 September 2025.
• About nine million pensioners in England and Wales are set to receive the support, while Scotland runs a separate Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and Northern Ireland administers its own scheme.
• Most recipients will get letters in October or November and automatic payments in November or December, with warnings to use only official GOV.UK channels to avoid scams.
• Manual claims are required for those not receiving DWP benefits or when specifically requested, with postal claims open since 15 September, phone claims from 13 October, and a final deadline of 31 March 2026.
• Experts criticize the £35,000 cliff‑edge as unfair, Martin Lewis notes taxable benefits and non‑ISA dividends count toward the limit, an opt‑out is available, and HMRC will recover over‑threshold payments via PAYE code changes or Self Assessment.