Winter Fuel Payment - payments and rates
The amount of Winter Fuel Payment you can receive each winter can vary according to your personal circumstances. Your age or other people living with you who are also eligible can affect the amount you receive.
Winter Fuel Payment rates
How much you get depends on your circumstances during the qualifying week. The qualifying week for winter 2021 to 2022 is 20 to 26 September 2021.
Winter Fuel Payment is tax free and does not affect your other benefits.
Amounts of Winter Fuel Payment for 2021/2022, according to your personal circumstances:
| Circumstances | Born between 27 September 1941 and 26 September 1955 | Born on or before 26 September 1941 |
|---|---|---|
| You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) | £200 | £300 |
| You qualify, get one of the benefits listed* and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) | £200 | £300 |
| You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies | £100 | £200 |
| You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies | £100 | £150 |
|
You qualify and live with someone who also get one of the benefits listed* |
£200 - only one of you will get the payment | £300 - only one of you will get the payment |
| You qualify, and live in a care home or independent hospital and don’t get any of the benefits listed* | £100 | £150 |
| You qualify, live in a care home and get one of the benefits listed* | Nil | Nil |
*Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support.
How and when you’re paid
You’ll get a letter telling you how much you will get and an estimated payment date.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December.
If the money is not paid into your account by 14 January 2022, contact the Winter Fuel payment Centre.
If you qualify and you are not getting a social security benefit (or if you only get Housing Benefit, Rates Relief, Child Benefit or Universal Credit), you will need to make a claim.
All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, such as a bank account.
If you claimed a Winter Fuel Payment for the first time, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre: