Winter fuel payments 2025: Scam warning as winter payments are rolled out to millions of Britons
The government has announced that millions of pensioners in England and Wales are now receiving their Winter Fuel Payments.
Nine million people will automatically receive between £100 and £300 between November and December.
The exact amount depends on whether they live as a couple, whether they are entitled to other benefits and whether they reside in a care home.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) simultaneously urged buyers to be wary of scams.
They warned of scammers impersonating government officials or payment providers and trying to trick people into revealing personal information.
When making payments, retirees are asked to pay attention to these fraudulent messages and remember that they will never be asked to provide bank information to receive the payment.
The government said people who receive a text message inviting them to apply for payment should not interact with the message, including clicking on links, and instead forward the message to 7726.
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell said: “From today, nine million pensioners across England and Wales will benefit from the Winter Fuel Payment credited to their bank accounts.
“Payments are made automatically throughout November and December, so don’t worry if yours hasn’t arrived yet. But remember to be wary of scam messages; the Government will never ask you to share personal information or click on links to request payment.”
The majority of retirees are expected to see their payments in their bank accounts by mid-December.
The government said if any retirees have questions about whether they are eligible or have received payments by January 28, 2026, they are encouraged to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Pensioners on low incomes can also apply for further support through pension credit (on average around £4,300 per year), while those with care needs can apply for care allowance of up to £5,740 per year in some cases.
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.
