Winter Fuel Payments in the UK Explained

Winter Fuel Payment in the UK is a tax-free, annual lump sum payment to help pensioners with home heating oil costs over winter. If you qualify for Winter Fuel Payment, it’s vital that you receive the correct amount and on time so you can keep yourself warm during the coldest months.

In this complete guide, we’ll explain who qualifies for Winter Fuel Allowance in 2020/2021, how to claim your payment if you don’t receive it automatically, how much you should expect to receive, and more. 

Who Qualifies for Winter Fuel Allowance?

You qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if you:

• were born on or before 5 October 1954 and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 21 to 27 September 2020 (this is the ‘qualifying week’).

The eligibility birth date changes every financial year.

If you were not living in the UK during the ‘qualifying week’, you might still be eligible for the payment if you:

• live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA)* country and have a genuine or sufficient link to the UK e.g. you may have lived or worked in the UK, or you may have family in the UK.

*EEA countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway only.

How Much is the Winter Fuel Payment 2020 to 2021

The Winter Fuel Payment you receive depends on your circumstances during the ‘qualifying week’. The ‘qualifying week’ for winter 2020 to 2021 was the week of 21 to 27 September 2020.

If you qualify and live alone (or with no one else who qualifies), you will receive:

• £200 – born between 28 September 1940 and 5 October 1954
• £300 – born on or before 27 September 1940

If you qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies, you will receive:

• £100 – born between 28 September 1940 and 5 October 1954
• £200 – born on or before 27 September 1940

If you qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies, you will receive:

• £100 – born between 28 September 1940 and 5 October 1954
• £150 – born on or before 27 September 1940

If you qualify and live in a care home and do not get certain benefits, you will receive:

• £100 – born between 28 September 1940 and 5 October 1954
• £150 – born on or before 27 September 1940

If you or your partner receive one of the following benefits, your payment may be different:

• Pension Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support

To learn more about how these benefits could affect your Winter Fuel Payment, please refer to the Government’s website.

When Wil I Receive my Winter Fuel Allowance?

You should receive your payment sometime during November or December.

If you do not receive your Winter Fuel Payment into your account by 13 January 2021, you need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

If you’ve had a change in circumstance that may affect your Winter Fuel Allowance, you’ll also need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. For example, you may need to report a change of address or if you’ve moved into a care home.

How Do I Claim Winter Fuel Allowance?

Typically, you don’t need to claim your Winter Fuel Payment as you should receive your payment automatically into your account, such as a bank account if you are eligible. This is the case even if it is the first year you are eligible unless any of the following apply:

• You do not get benefits or a State Pension
• You only get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit
• You get benefits or a State Pension but live in Switzerland or an eligible EEA country

If you have received your Winter Fuel Payment in previous years, you only need to make a claim if:

• You have deferred your State Pension
• You have moved to Switzerland or an eligible EEA country

To claim your Winter Fuel Allowance, just get in touch with the Winter Fuel Payment Centre via phone or post.

Do You Get Winter Fuel Allowance if You Live Abroad?

If you were living abroad during the ‘qualifying week’, you may still be eligible to receive the payment if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You were born on or before 5 October 1954
• You live in Switzerland or an EEA country (with exceptions)
• You have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK e.g. your family may live in the UK
• You’re covered by the Withdrawal Agreement

The only EEA countries included in the eligibility criteria are Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Spain are excluded because the average winter temperatures in these countries is higher than the warmest region of the UK.

We hope this guide has helped you to understand the Winter Fuel Payment system in the UK. With or without an allowance, everybody wants to secure the best home heating oil prices. To learn how to keep your costs down, read our complete guide or contact us for a competitive heating oil quote.