News

Change To Winter Fuel Payments

13 - 06 - 2025

The UK Government has announced it is reinstating the Winter Fuel Payment for 2025/26 in England and Wales.

On 09 June 2025 the UK Government announced that it was reinstating the Winter Fuel Payment for the 2025/26 winter in England and Wales.

Only those born before 22 September 1959 and living in England and Wales will be eligible. The benefit will also be restricted to those pensioners with a gross income of £35,000 or less.

The 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payment will be £200 per household which is increased to £300 per household where there is someone aged 80 or over.

In order to facilitate the payment all individuals over state pension age will be paid the non taxable benefit. Pensioners above the £35,000 threshold will then have the full amount they received automatically collected through their tax code and the PAYE system or via their self assessment tax return. No one needs to register with HMRC or take any further action.

Any overpayment will be recovered from individuals and household incomes will not be aggregated. This means that one pensioner in the household may have an income greater than £35,000 and lose the payment whilst their spouse may have an income below £35,000 and retain their payment.

Pensioners who want to opt out and not receive the payment will be able to do so once a system to opt out is established by the DWP.

Foremans LLP will be monitoring the roll out of the payments and reclaims and will keep clients informed of any changes including the opt out option.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to discuss any of the above further. We will be more than happy to help.