Overview

• Claims open by post on 15 September and by phone on 15 October, with applications closing on 31 March 2026.
• Notification letters will arrive in October or November and most payments will be made in November or December 2025.
• Eligibility is based on being born before 22 September 1959 and living in England or Wales, with awards ranging from £100 to £300 depending on age, household and benefit status.
• Around nine million pensioners will be paid automatically; HMRC will recover payments from higher earners via PAYE code changes or Self Assessment, and an opt‑out is available.
• Scottish residents will receive a separate Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from Social Security Scotland, and officials warn to ignore texts or emails linking to claim forms as claims are only by post or phone.