Latest news with #WinterFuelPayments
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Will I get a Winter Fuel Payment? I'm confused whether I have £35,000 'taxable' income: HEATHER ROGERS replies
I am confused about how to calculate my taxable income for the purpose of the Winter Fuel Payment. Do I just add up all my pensions to get this figure, or do I deduct my tax allowance from this total to get the taxable income? I would be grateful for your advice. Heather Rogers replies: The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free sum of up to £300 given to eligible pensioner households to help cover heating bills. Until 2024-25 it was handed to almost all pensioners but last summer the Government announced it would only be given to those receiving pension credit or a similar benefit. It meant many pensioners who missed the threshold of claiming pension credit or other financial support by a just a few pounds did not receive a WFP last year. This caused considerable worry to those pensioners on low incomes, especially given rising heating bills. The Government has since relented a bit and now will make Winter Fuel Payments from 2025/26 to eligible pensioner households, but claw it back from individuals whose taxable income is over £35,000. This will be done through self-assessment if you fill in a self-assessment tax return, or through your tax code, or via a direct bill from HMRC. So what does all this mean in practice? What counts as taxable income? How will you know what you will receive or if you should actively claim a WFP? Let's look at who gets the benefit and how it works, then I will explain the clawback rules. Who will get a Winter Fuel Payment this year? Most people born before 22 September 1959 who live in England and Wales should receive a Winter Fuel Payment initially, unless they opt out. There are separate rules in Scotland which are here, and the system in Northern Ireland is explained here. You should receive the payment without needing to do anything if you meet the eligibility rules and are in receipt of: - State pension - Pension Credit - Universal Credit - Attendance Allowance - Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - Carer's Allowance - Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - Income Support - Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - Awards from the War Pensions Scheme - Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit - Incapacity Benefit - Industrial Death Benefit You will not be eligible if you: - Live outside England and Wales - Were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the 'qualifying week' of 15 to 21 September 2025 and had been in hospital for 52 weeks including that week - Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds - Were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025 If you live in a care home, you can still receive a WFP but there are two restrictions. If they both apply to you, then you can't claim I'm afraid. Even if you can claim, the amount you can get is lower. The restrictions are: - If you receive one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA or income-related ESA, and; - You lived in a care home for the whole time from 23 June 2025 (or prior to that date) to the 21 September 2025. When will you hear from the Government - and what if you don't? You should receive a letter in October or November 2025 advising you if you are eligible for a WFP. However, you may not receive a letter if you have deferred your state pension. If you don't receive a letter and you think you are eligible you can claim the Winter Fuel Payment here. You can do this by post from 15 September 2025, or by phone from 13 October 2025. The deadline to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is 31 March 2026. Ignore text messages pretending to be from the Department for Work and Pensions about making a claim for WFP. There are unfortunately widespread scams trying to harvest personal information from people. How much will you receive? The amount you receive is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 to 21 September 2025. This is called the 'qualifying week'. If you live alone, or no one else you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, then it's quite straightforward. You will receive: - £200 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 - £300 if you were born before 22 September 1945 If you live with someone else who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment then it gets a bit more complicated. You'll receive: - £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 (they'll receive £100 as well) - £100 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 but the person you live with was born before 22 September 1945 (they'll receive £200) - £200 if you were born before 22 September 1945 but the person you live with was born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 (they'll receive £100) - £150 if you and the person you live with were both born before 22 September 1945 (they'll receive £150 too). If you or your partner receive one of the benefits below, the WFP will be made in one lump sum of £200 or £300 and won't be split between individuals. The benefits are: - Pension Credit - Universal Credit - Income-based JSA - Income-related ESA - Income Support If you live in a care home, providing you qualify and the restrictions explained above don't apply, then you'll receive: - £100 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 - £150 if you were born before 22 September 1945 Any WFP you receive will not affect your other benefits. When will you receive the WFP? Most payments will be made automatically in November or December 2025. As explained above, you should receive a letter which will explain: - How much you'll receive - Which bank account it will be paid into - this is usually the same account as your state pension or other benefits If you don't receive a letter or the WFP has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. How do you calculate 'taxable income' for WFP? The WFP itself is not taxable so doesn't form part of the calculation for taxable income. The payment you receive will only be clawed back if your annual taxable income is over £35,000. If your income is over £35,000 but your partner's isn't, then only the higher earner will have theirs clawed back. Taxable income is calculated gross, before deducting any personal or tax-free allowances and it includes all income on which tax is payable. So, in answer to your question, do add up all your pensions, but do not then deduct your tax allowances from this figure when you are working out if you are above or below the £35,000 income limit. Taxable income includes: - State or private pensions - Interest from bank accounts or other investments that are not Isas - Dividend income - Rental income - Self -employment income - Wages - Taxable benefits such as Jobseekers' Allowance It does not include: - Capital gains - Income from Isas whether in cash or stocks and shares - Benefits which are not taxable (more information on taxable and non-taxable benefits can be found here). HMRC will claw back the amount you receive if your total taxable income for 2025/26 exceeds £35,000. It will either send a simple calculation and deduct it from your tax code, or if you don't have any income subject to PAYE it will send a bill. If you fill in a self-assessment tax return then you can pay back the WFP with your tax. HMRC has said no-one will have to register for self-assessment if their WFP has to be clawed back. Can you just opt out if the clawback is too much hassle? You can choose to opt out of receiving the WFP altogether. You will need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before 15 September 2025. You can also opt in again if your circumstances change. To still get a payment for 2025/26, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by 31 March 2026. Ask Heather Rogers a tax question Heather Rogers, founder and owner of Aston Accountancy, is our tax columnist. She is ready to answer your questions on any tax topic - tax codes, inheritance tax, income tax, capital gains tax, and much more. If you would like to ask Heather a question about tax, email her at taxquestions@ Heather will do her best to reply to your message in a forthcoming monthly column, but she won't be able to answer everyone or correspond privately with readers. Nothing in her replies constitutes regulated financial advice. Published questions are sometimes edited for brevity or other reasons. Please include a daytime contact number with your message - this will be kept confidential and not used for marketing purposes. If Heather is unable to answer your question, you can find out about getting help with tax here, including sources of free professional advice if you are elderly and/or on a low income. You can also contact MoneyHelper, a Government-backed organisation which gives free assistance on financial matters to the public. Its number is 0800 011 3797.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
DWP scam: fake Winter Fuel Payment text tricking over-60s
Fraudsters are exploiting government confusion to steal bank details 🔒 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scammers are sending fake DWP texts about Winter Fuel Payments to trick pensioners Messages claim recipients must apply or miss out on a £300 'winter heating allowance' Links in the texts lead to fake websites requesting personal and bank details The DWP has confirmed it never sends texts or emails asking for bank info for this payment Only those newly eligible need to apply — most payments are made automatically Older people are being urged to stay alert as scammers exploit public confusion over recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment with a convincing text message con trick. The fraudulent messages claim to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), warning that recipients haven't yet applied for this year's 'winter heating allowance' and risk missing out on a £300 payment if they don't act fast. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The message includes a link designed to look like an official site – but it's a trap. The warning comes just weeks after the Government reversed its stance on the one-off winter top-up, leading many to believe they may need to reapply for support. What do the scam text messages look like? (Photo: Pexels) | Pexels Scammers are banking on the recent headlines to add a false sense of urgency. Their messages appear to be from 'DWP' or 'Department for Work and Pensions', reference a 'winter heating allowance', and suggest recipients are at risk of missing out on £300. They also include a link resembling a genuine government web address, and claim there's a same-day deadline to act. Once clicked, the link takes you to a fake site asking for personal and financial details. In some cases, users are told to pay £1 on their card to 'verify' their identity – a tactic used to harvest payment details. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The official word from DWP The DWP has issued a firm warning, saying: 'We never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for winter fuel payment purposes.' In most cases, Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically to those of state pension age who have received the payment before. Only those who've never had it – such as people newly eligible or who've deferred their state pension – need to apply. What to do if you receive a scam message? Ignore and delete any texts asking you to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment, and warn older family members or neighbours who may be more vulnerable. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Report scam messages by forwarding them to 7726 (a free reporting service). If you've fallen victim, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via their website.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
DWP scam: fake Winter Fuel Payment text tricking over-60s
Fraudsters are exploiting government confusion to steal bank details 🔒 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scammers are sending fake DWP texts about Winter Fuel Payments to trick pensioners Messages claim recipients must apply or miss out on a £300 'winter heating allowance' Links in the texts lead to fake websites requesting personal and bank details The DWP has confirmed it never sends texts or emails asking for bank info for this payment Only those newly eligible need to apply — most payments are made automatically Older people are being urged to stay alert as scammers exploit public confusion over recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment with a convincing text message con trick. The fraudulent messages claim to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), warning that recipients haven't yet applied for this year's 'winter heating allowance' and risk missing out on a £300 payment if they don't act fast. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The message includes a link designed to look like an official site – but it's a trap. The warning comes just weeks after the Government reversed its stance on the one-off winter top-up, leading many to believe they may need to reapply for support. What do the scam text messages look like? (Photo: Pexels) | Pexels Scammers are banking on the recent headlines to add a false sense of urgency. Their messages appear to be from 'DWP' or 'Department for Work and Pensions', reference a 'winter heating allowance', and suggest recipients are at risk of missing out on £300. They also include a link resembling a genuine government web address, and claim there's a same-day deadline to act. Once clicked, the link takes you to a fake site asking for personal and financial details. In some cases, users are told to pay £1 on their card to 'verify' their identity – a tactic used to harvest payment details. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The official word from DWP The DWP has issued a firm warning, saying: 'We never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for winter fuel payment purposes.' In most cases, Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically to those of state pension age who have received the payment before. Only those who've never had it – such as people newly eligible or who've deferred their state pension – need to apply. What to do if you receive a scam message? Ignore and delete any texts asking you to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment, and warn older family members or neighbours who may be more vulnerable. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Report scam messages by forwarding them to 7726 (a free reporting service). If you've fallen victim, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via their website. Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
£200 payment for state pensioners born before 1959 to be made soon
The one-off payment is worth at least £200 and is being paid out to pensioners as part of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme. This cash boost will automatically land in bank accounts later this year Around nine million pensioners are set to receive a payment of at least £200 as part of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme. With the current cost of living affecting many UK households, this financial support has been designed to help older people cover the cost of heating bills during the colder months. If you were born before September 22, 1959, you could be entitled between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for this winter. This payment is also known as 'Winter Fuel Payment', which is a one-off payment. This cash boost will automatically land in bank accounts later this year, with no need for individuals to claim it. Those eligible will receive the money between the months of November and December, ahead of the winter season and Christmas time. Thanks to changes in eligibility rules, millions more pensioners will benefit from this support this year. This means that many who missed out on the winter allowance in 2024 can anticipate this bonus in the coming year. Labour initially stripped millions of pensioners of this benefit before being compelled to reverse their decision. Now, approximately 75% of seniors, those earning less than £35,000, will retain this cash boost. Those under 80 will receive £200, while those over 80 will be granted £300, reports Birmingham Live. Winter Fuel Payments typically hit bank accounts in November, ensuring everyone has the funds in time for Christmas. Initially, all pensioners will receive the cash. As per the latest reports, around 11.6 million people received a Winter Fuel Payment in 2023-2024, an increase of 214,000 from the previous year, and numbers grow every year. However, it's important to note that HMRC will reclaim it from those whose incomes exceed the threshold of £35,000. Earlier this year, the Government backtracked on its unpopular decision to alter the winter fuel scheme. This follows the government's announcement to cut the Winter Fuel Payment in July 2024, removing the eligibility to millions of pensioners. However, after significant backlash, Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed in May 2025 to easing the cuts, expanding the eligibility to receive the one-off payment. By doing so, millions of pensioners will be able to receive the extra funds to help cover energy costs and household bills during the upcoming season. This is especially important to those with fixed incomes, offering relief and stability in the current cost-of-living situations.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Date set for when £300 DWP Winter Fuel Payment will arrive in accounts
The one-off payment will be made in November or December for those who are eligible - but some may need to make a claim to receive it. Here how the system works The Department for Work and Pensions has released further details about this year's Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners. This grant, which can be up to £300, is designed to assist the elderly with their heating costs. The DWP has announced that pensioners wishing to claim this year's payment can do so by post from September 15 and over the phone from October 15. The Government stresses that Winter Fuel Payments will be automatically distributed to approximately nine million individuals in England and Wales, though some may need to apply. Pensioners born before 22 September 1959 will receive between £100 and £300 during November and December, but they will be notified by letter beforehand detailing exactly how much they will get. The website specifies two particular groups of people who may need to claim the money, but it's crucial to note that this can only be done by post or over the phone. It's important to be aware that if you receive a text or an email instructing you to claim by clicking on a link or dialling a number, it's a scam. The DWP has already issued warnings via social media about these fraudulent messages, urging pensioners to report them, reports the Daily Record. Check if you need to make a claim The DWP states that most people will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment if they are eligible during the qualifying week, which is 15 - 21 September 2025. You don't need to claim if you receive any of the following: State Pension Pension Credit Universal Credit Attendance Allowance Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Carer's Allowance Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Income Support income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) awards from the War Pensions Scheme Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Incapacity Benefit Industrial Death Benefit You'll need to put in a claim if any of the following conditions apply: you've not had the Winter Fuel Payment before you've deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment If your taxable income exceeds £35,000, HMRC will claw back your Winter Fuel Payment via the tax system. If you'd rather not receive it, you can choose to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment. Eligible individuals will receive a letter around October or November detailing the amount they're due to get. The majority of those eligible should expect payment in November or December 2025. How to claim Here's how you can claim your Winter Fuel Payment: post - from September 15, 2025 phone - from October 13, 2025 The cut-off date for winter 2025 to 2026 claims is March 31, 2026. Comprehensive instructions on how to claim by post or phone are available on
