Overview

• Eligibility covers people born before 22 September 1959 who live in England or Wales, with the qualifying week set for 15–21 September 2025.
• Most pensioners will be paid automatically in November or December, after receiving a DWP letter confirming the amount and destination account.
• Claims are only accepted by post from 15 September or by phone from mid‑October, and unsolicited texts or emails inviting claims are scams; the claim deadline is 31 March 2026.
• Exclusions include those living outside England and Wales, people in hospital for the entire qualifying week and the prior year, those barred from public funds by immigration status, prisoners during the qualifying week, and some care‑home residents receiving specified means‑tested benefits.
• Individuals with taxable income over £35,000 will have the full payment recovered automatically via PAYE or Self Assessment, with an option to opt out entirely and further HMRC operational details due at Budget 2025.