Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2025 laid before Parliament

The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2025 were laid before Parliament on 22 August 2025 and extend to England and Wales only¹. They revoke and replace the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 and make the payment universal from winter 2025/26¹. The regulations are due to be in force from 15 September 2025, the first day of the qualifying week¹.

The qualifying week is the week beginning on the third Monday of September, which for winter 2025/26 is 15 to 21 September 2025¹. The Secretary of State must pay a Winter Fuel Payment to a person who has reached State Pension age in or before the qualifying week and is ordinarily resident in England or Wales¹. The regulations increase the numbers entitled from 1.5 million to 10.9 million, and around 2 million payments will be recovered through the tax system from those not in receipt of a relevant means-tested benefit and with a taxable income over £35,000, leaving around 9 million pensioners as net beneficiaries¹. The tax recovery provisions will be included in the Finance Bill to be introduced in Autumn 2025¹.

Broadly, payments are £200 for a household with someone of State Pension age and £300 for a household with someone aged 80 or over¹. Where no relevant means-tested benefit is in payment and there is more than one eligible person in the household, each person over State Pension age receives £100 if aged between State Pension age and 79; £200 if aged 80 or over and the only person aged 80 or over in the household; or £150 if aged 80 or over and there are other people aged 80 or over in the household¹. Those living permanently in residential care receive £100 if aged between State Pension age and 79, or £150 if aged 80 or over¹. Where a relevant means-tested benefit is in payment, a couple where both partners are aged under 80 receive £200, and where either or both are aged 80 or over the amount is £300¹.

A person is not entitled to a payment if they are the partner of, and living with, someone in receipt of a relevant means-tested benefit during the qualifying week; if they are in hospital receiving free treatment for the whole of the qualifying week and have been for more than 52 weeks immediately before it; if they are in prison serving a sentence for the whole of the qualifying week; if they are in residential care permanently and in receipt of a relevant means-tested benefit; or if they have not claimed by 31 March following the qualifying week, subject to exceptions¹. Relevant means-tested benefits are Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support¹.

Winter heating assistance is devolved in Scotland and Winter Fuel Payments are a transferred benefit in Northern Ireland; the place of residence on the last day of the qualifying week determines which payment is made¹. Payments will not be made outside the United Kingdom, and the provisions for payments in the EEA and Switzerland expired on 1 April 2025¹. The regulations were considered by the Social Security Advisory Committee on 16 July 2025, which decided not to take them on formal reference but wrote to the Secretary of State with observations¹. HMRC informally consulted tax stakeholders during June and July 2025 on recovery through PAYE and Self-Assessment¹.

Why it matters for households

Pensioner households in England and Wales become entitled to a payment for winter 2025/26 regardless of whether they receive a means-tested benefit, subject to the exclusions above¹. Entitlement turns on reaching State Pension age by the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and being ordinarily resident in England or Wales, defined as living there throughout the qualifying week and the 12 weeks immediately before it, disregarding temporary absence¹. Payments are made from November 2025, with letters issued after the qualifying week and before payment¹. Around 2 million payments will be recovered through the tax system from pensioners with a taxable income over £35,000 who are not on a relevant means-tested benefit¹. Those who do not wish to receive an automatic payment may opt out via the Winter Fuel Payment Centre helpline or an online form¹. The Winter Fuel Payment guide sets out who gets it and the income threshold, and the benefits hub covers related support. Scottish pensioners receive a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead, covered in the guide to Pension Age, Child and Winter Heating Payments in Scotland.

What happens next

The regulations are to be in force from 15 September 2025¹. The qualifying week runs from 15 to 21 September 2025¹. Claims may be made up to 31 March following the qualifying week¹. Letters notifying customers will be issued following the qualifying week and before payments are made from November 2025¹. The tax recovery provisions will be included in the Finance Bill to be introduced in Autumn 2025¹.