DWP names five groups of people who will not get Winter Fuel Payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has outlined five groups of people who will not be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this winter.

Certain individuals born before September 22, 1959 will receive up to £300 from the Government to help heat their homes. A total of nine million pensioners in England and Wales are set to receive the Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP this winter, following a Government U-turn announced on June 11.

This change means that eligible pensioners- those with an income of or below £35,000 - will receive either £200 or £300 this winter. However, the DWP has confirmed that five groups of over-66s will not receive this financial aid.

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You won't be eligible if you:

• live outside England and Wales
• were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of September 15 to 21, 2025 (and the year before that)
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole of the week of September 15 to 21, 2025
• have an annual income of more than £35,000

If you reside in a care home, you can receive a Winter Fuel Payment. However, you won't be eligible if both of the following apply:

• you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• you lived in a care home for the entire year from June 23, 2025 or earlier

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Most people automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment if they're eligible. You don't need to claim if you receive any of the following:

• State Pension
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Death Benefit

If your income exceeds £35,000, HMRC will reclaim your Winter Fuel Payment, reports the Manchester Evening News. You can check if your income is above the threshold and how HMRC will reclaim it.

HMRC will reclaim your Winter Fuel Payment by either:

• changing your tax code for the 2026 to 2027 tax year
• adding the amount to your 2025 to 2026 Self Assessment tax return