DWP issues warning to pensioners ahead of winter fuel payments
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging pensioners to avoid getting involved in winter fuel payment scams ahead of next month’s payments.
The warning follows data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which recorded a 153 per cent increase in fraudulent referrals in the last week of September.
Scammers are sending fake messages claiming to be from government officials, and such scams are on the rise again as payment deadlines approach.
However, the Government said winter fuel payments are made automatically and will never ask for bank details by text. The government said people who received a text message inviting them to apply for payment should not contact the message and instead forward the message to 7726.
The DWP said it was stepping up its social media campaign in partnership with Action Fraud to raise awareness of these scams, as well as working with charities.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “If you receive a text message about winter fuel payments it’s a scam. These will be made automatically so you won’t need to apply.”
“These nefarious attempts by criminals to target people are on the rise. We are raising awareness to make it harder for fraudsters to succeed.
“If you receive a suspicious message regarding winter fuel payments, do not intervene, forward it to 7726 and delete it immediately.”
Winter fuel payments will be automatically paid into people’s bank accounts and eligible pensioners will receive a letter in October or November telling them how much they will receive. Payments will be made between mid-November and December 2025.
Some pensioners can apply for further support this winter through pension credit, which is available to people on low incomes, worth an average of £4,300 a year. Retirees in need of care can also apply for care allowance.
The government had previously announced plans to restrict eligibility for winter fuel payments but this was later reversed and payments returned to the vast majority of pensioners who had previously received them.
People who think they have been defrauded should report the situation to the bank and the police.
