Overview
- Payments of £100 to £300 are scheduled to land from 1 November, with most eligible people paid automatically through November and December after letters issued in October and November.
- Eligibility is based on being born before 22 September 1959 and living in England or Wales, assessed during the qualifying week of 15–21 September 2025.
- Amounts are tiered by circumstance: £100 for eligible care‑home residents, £200 for those aged 66–79, and £300 for those aged 80 and over.
- The DWP says anyone with income above £35,000 will have the full payment collected automatically via PAYE or through a Self Assessment return, a pay‑then‑reclaim approach that reports say may cause confusion.
- People who believe they are eligible but are not paid automatically can apply until 31 March 2026, and the DWP indicates an option to opt out of receiving the payment will be available with details to follow.