If you were born on or before 5 November 1954 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.
You usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you are eligible and you get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).
If you’re eligible but do not get paid automatically, you will need to make a claim.
The deadline for claiming payments for winter 2020 to 2021 is 31 March 2021
Most payments are made automatically between November and December. You should get your money by 13 January 2021.
If you do not get your payment, call the office that pays your benefits - their details are on any letters they sent you.
Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.
You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by phone or by post.
Claim for the first time by phone
Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to claim by phone.
Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Telephone: 0800 731 0160
Telephone from outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 7777
Textphone: 0800 731 0176
Textphone from outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 7280
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0160
Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users - check you can use this service
New claims or payment enquiries: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm
Report a change of circumstances or eligibility enquiries: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
You will need to know:
your National Insurance number
your bank or building society details
your BIC and IBAN numbers if you live in the EEA or Switzerland
the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate)