Overview

• Payments of £200 for most recipients under 80 and £300 for those aged 80 or over will be paid automatically from November.
• Eligibility in England and Wales includes people born on or before 22 September 1959, with letters due in October or November confirming how much each person will receive.
• HMRC will reclaim payments from higher‑income recipients by adjusting 2026–27 PAYE tax codes or by adding the amount to 2025–26 Self Assessment returns.
• Exclusions apply to several groups even if they meet the age test, including people living outside England and Wales, those in hospital or prison for the whole week of 15–21 September 2025, and individuals barred from public funds by immigration conditions.
• DWP says Pension Credit applications rose 44% year on year to July 2025, and analysis indicates expected savings from the reform have fallen sharply, while energy forecasters predict October bills will rise by about 1%.