Overview
- Most eligible people born before 22 September 1959 will be paid automatically in November or December 2025, with letters sent in October and November setting out awards of £100 to £300.
- HMRC will reclaim payments from those with taxable incomes over £35,000 via PAYE or Self Assessment, with typical PAYE deductions around £17 a month per £200 and a temporary double collection in 2027 lifting this to about £33.
- People who have never had the Winter Fuel Payment before or who deferred their State Pension since their last payment must claim by 31 March 2026 through the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
- A separate tax‑free £10 DWP Christmas Bonus will be paid automatically to those on qualifying benefits during the first full week of December, usually appearing as DWP XB on statements.
- Benefit payments due on 25 or 26 December are expected to arrive on 24 December, and the DWP warns that texts about Winter Fuel Payments are scams that should be forwarded to 7726 and reported to Action Fraud.