DWP Winter Fuel Payment Deadline

The United Kingdom — Department for Work and Pensions has set a deadline of January 28, 2026, for eligible pensioners in England and Wales to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if they have not automatically received their 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payment. Most of the nine million eligible pensioner households should have received payments of £100, £200, or £300 by the end of December. Pensioners born before September 22, 1959, with an income at or below £35,000, are typically eligible for automatic payments. Those who have not received a letter or payment by the deadline are advised to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. A separate deadline of March 31, 2026, applies to those who need to make an initial claim for the payment, particularly if they have not received it before or have deferred their State Pension since their last payment. The payments are intended to help with heating bills and do not affect other benefits. United Kingdom — HM Revenue and Customs will reclaim payments through PAYE or Self Assessment if applicable. Scammers are also a concern, with warnings issued against fraudulent text messages.