Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2022 to 2023
Published 19 September 2023
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This bulletin contains commentary on the annual Winter Fuel Payment statistics at recipient and household level. The release includes statistics for residents of Great Britain and eligible residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries together with Switzerland. It also contains statistics on expenditure for payments made to those living outside Great Britain.
Notices
This release covers recipient and household level statistics for winter 2022 to 2023 and household level statistics for winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022.
Statistics including estimates of the number of households who received a Winter Fuel Payment have been reinstated in this release after redevelopment following the change of administration system.
Winter Fuel Payment Statistics are now Official Statistics. Previously, these statistics had been designated as experimental statistics. In Spring 2023, the Chief Statistician for DWP led an internal review of all experimental Official Statistics produced by DWP. This is in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The review found that it was appropriate to remove the experimental label from this publication because it was concluded that the statistics are suitable and of public value. As of 19 September 2023, these statistics will now be classed as Official Statistics.
1. Main stories
The main stories for winter 2022 to 2023 are:
- the number of Winter Fuel Payments recipients in winter 2022 to 2023 was 11.4 million, a rise of around 157,000 recipients since winter 2021 to 2022
- of these, 99.7% lived in Great Britain, with around 36,000 recipients living in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
- the number of households paid a Winter Fuel Payment in winter 2022 to 2023 was 8.4 million, an increase of around 146,000 households since winter 2021 to 2022
- all Winter Fuel Payments made included an additional Pensioner Cost of Living Payment of either £150 or £300
See the data tables accompanying this release for supporting data and additional breakdowns, such as age band and gender.
2. What you need to know
Winter Fuel Payments were introduced in 1997 to help pension aged people pay their heating bills. It is an annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300, to those eligible, to help meet the costs of heating their homes in winter. For winter 2022 to 2023, an additional ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’ of either £150 or £300 was paid alongside the regular Winter Fuel Payment. This payment was in addition to any other Cost of Living Payment that may have been received with their benefits or tax credits in 2022.
Supplementary tables are published for recipients with breakdowns by amounts paid, age band and gender, and for households by age band, with additional breakdowns available by region, local authority and Westminster parliamentary constituency for further analysis.
Further guidance on these statistics is provided in the ‘About these statistics’ section of this bulletin and the background, quality, and methodology report.
Methodology Changes (from winter 2020 to 2021)
The introduction of a new Seasonal Payment System to administer Winter Fuel Payments in winter 2020 to 2021 led to a change in methodology for compiling the statistics for winter 2020 to 2021 onwards.
Users should be cautious if they make any comparisons between the statistics published using different methodologies. Statistics up to and including winter 2019 to 2020 were based on the number of people entitled to Winter Fuel Payment and can be found in the previous Winter Fuel Payment publications. From winter 2020 to 2021 onwards, the statistics are based on actual payments made according to the Seasonal Payment System.
Household level data is now available from winter 2020 to 2021 to winter 2022 to 2023 following redevelopment to account for the change in data source.
3. All Winter Fuel Payment recipients
Recipients are the number of people recorded on the Seasonal Payment System who received a Winter Fuel Payment.
See the supplementary tables accompanying this release for supporting data and additional breakdowns for winter 2022 to 2023.
The number of Winter Fuel Payments has increased since winter 2020 to 2021.
Total number of recipients of a Winter Fuel Payment
| Period | Total number of recipients (millions) |
|---|---|
| Winter 2020 to 2021 | 11.1 |
| Winter 2021 to 2022 | 11.3 |
| Winter 2022 to 2023 | 11.4 |
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
In winter 2021 to 2022, around 11.3 million people received a Winter Fuel Payment. In winter 2022 to 2023, around 11.4 million people received a Winter Fuel Payment, an increase of around 157,000 payments, or 1.4%, from the previous year. The number of people receiving State Pension has seen a similar increase over this time period.
Not all Winter Fuel Payment recipients live in Great Britain. More information about payments made to people living in Great Britain is available in Section 4. A breakdown of findings for EEA and Switzerland can be found in Section 5.
4. Winter Fuel Payments made to those living in Great Britain
Most Winter Fuel Payments are made to people living in Great Britain (99.7% for winter 2022 to 2023).
The number of recipients of Winter Fuel Payment aged 75 and over in Great Britain is rising.
Recipients of a Winter Fuel Payment in Great Britain by age group
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
The number of recipients of Winter Fuel Payment in Great Britain aged 75 and above is increasing. In winter 2021 to 2022, around 5.6 million recipients in Great Britain were aged 75 and above. This increased to around 5.8 million in winter 2022 to 2023, a change of 262,000 or 4.7%.
The number of recipients under 75 has decreased slightly. There were just over 5.6 million recipients in Great Britain under 75 in winter 2021 to 2022. In winter 2022 to 2023, this number dropped by 105,000 to around 5.5 million. This is a decrease of 1.9%.
Due to changes in the State Pension age, the minimum age of recipients was 65 in winter 2020 to 2021 and 66 in winter 2021 to 2022 onwards. More information on the change in State Pension age can be found in the State Pension age timetable.
5. Winter Fuel Payments made to those living in EEA or Switzerland
From winter 2002 to 2003, Winter Fuel Payments were extended, under certain circumstances, to people who live outside of the UK but within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. For winter 2015 to 2016 onwards certain countries with an average winter temperature higher than the warmest region of the UK (South West England) were excluded. Further details and a timeline of policy changes impacting Winter Fuel Payments for people living outside the UK is available in the background, quality, and methodology report.
There was a small increase in Winter Fuel Payments made to EEA and Switzerland residents since winter 2021 to 2022.
Recipients of Winter Fuel Payments – EEA and Switzerland
| Period | Total number of recipients in EEA and Switzerland (thousands) |
|---|---|
| Winter 2020 to 2021 | 41.6 |
| Winter 2021 to 2022 | 35.8 |
| Winter 2022 to 2023 | 35.9 |
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
In winter 2022 to 2023, around 35,900 Winter Fuel Payments were made to recipients in the eligible EEA countries and Switzerland which is a slight increase of around 130 since winter 2021 to 2022. The winter 2022 to 2023 expenditure increased by £10.3 million, or 128.8%, to £18.3 million, however this is a result of the increased payments made due to the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.
For expenditure figures for Great Britain please refer to the Benefit expenditure and caseload tables.
Most recipients of Winter Fuel Payment in the EEA live in Ireland (77.3% in winter 2022 to 2023).
Recipients of Winter Fuel Payments in EEA and Switzerland by country
| Country | Winter Fuel Payments made | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 27,760 | 77.3% |
| Germany | 2,222 | 6.2% |
| Italy | 1,693 | 4.7% |
| Bulgaria | 742 | 2.1% |
| Netherlands | 598 | 1.7% |
| Switzerland | 500 | 1.4% |
| Poland | 387 | 1.1% |
| Remainder of EEA | 2,002 | 5.6% |
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
Most payments made outside of Great Britain in winter 2022 to 2023 are to those living in Ireland, with 77.3% of payments. Germany and Italy are the second and third highest with 6.2% and 4.7% of payments respectively. A full breakdown of payments and expenditure by country is available in the supplementary tables accompanying this release.
6. Households in receipt of Winter Fuel Payment
A household unit consists of up to three Winter Fuel Payment recipients who are recorded as living at the same address during the qualifying week.
The number of households in receipt of a Winter Fuel Payment is increasing since winter 2020 to 2021.
Total number of households in receipt of a Winter Fuel Payment
| Period | Total number of households (millions) |
|---|---|
| Winter 2020 to 2021 | 8.1 |
| Winter 2021 to 2022 | 8.2 |
| Winter 2022 to 2023 | 8.4 |
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
In winter 2021 to 2022, around 8.2 million households received a Winter Fuel Payment. In winter 2022 to 2023, around 8.4 million households received a Winter Fuel Payment, an increase of around 146,000 households, or 1.8%, from the previous year.
7. Definitions
More information about these definitions is available in the background, quality, and methodology report.
Recipient
This refers to an individual who is paid a Winter Fuel Payment. This is irrespective of whether they received their payment automatically or if they had to make a claim.
Household
A household unit consists of up to three Winter Fuel Payment recipients who are recorded as living at the same address during the qualifying week. Households containing more than three recipients have been excluded from the statistics.
Qualifying week
To qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment, an individual must meet certain circumstances during a given week each year. For winter 2022 to 2023 the qualifying week was 19 to 25 September. Qualifying weeks for previous years can be found in previous statistical releases.
State Pension
A regular payment most people can claim from DWP when they reach the State Pension age, dependent on date of birth and the number of ‘qualifying’ years of National Insurance contributions made.
Winter Fuel Payment
An annual tax-free payment made to those eligible to help towards their heating costs. It is a lump sum payment and in most cases is paid automatically with some exceptions.
Cost of Living Payment
An extra payment to help with the cost of living to those entitled to certain benefits or tax credits. If eligible, it was paid automatically and there were 3 different types of payment in 2022 depending on the circumstances on a particular date or during a particular period:
- a Cost of Living Payment, if in receipt of a qualifying low income benefit or tax credits
- a Disability Cost of Living Payment, if in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit
- a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment of £150 or £300, if entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023
These payments were not taxable and did not affect the benefits or tax credits already received.
8. About these statistics
Winter Fuel Payment Statistics are now Official Statistics. Previously, these statistics had been designated as experimental statistics. In Spring 2023, the Chief Statistician for DWP led an internal review of all experimental Official Statistics produced by DWP. This is in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The review found that it was appropriate to remove the experimental label from this publication because it was concluded that the statistics are suitable and of public value. As of 19 September 2023, these statistics will now be classed as Official Statistics.
Statistics under the previous methodology that cover the winter periods before winter 2020 to 2021 can be found in the previous Winter Fuel Payment publications.
Winter Fuel Payments were introduced in 1997 to help pension aged people pay their heating bills. It is an annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300, to those eligible, to help meet the costs of heating their homes in winter. For winter 2022 to 2023, an additional ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’ of either £150 or £300 was paid alongside the regular Winter Fuel Payment. This payment was in addition to any other Cost of Living Payment that may have been received with their benefits or tax credits in 2022.
The payment is generally made between November and December but can extend until the end of March. Eligibility is based on the individual’s circumstances during the qualifying week, which is usually in the September before the winter covered by the payment. The qualifying age matches the State Pension age and is now 66.
Automatic entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment is based on the individual being in receipt of State Pension or another social security benefit (not including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit). Whilst Winter Fuel Payments are not dependent on receipt of state support, people in receipt of State Pension make up a large proportion of Winter Fuel Payment recipients.
Detailed eligibility criteria are listed in the background, quality, and methodology report.
8.1 European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
From winter 2002 to 2003, Winter Fuel Payments were extended, under certain circumstances to people who live outside of the UK but within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
The European Economic Area (EEA) is made up of all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, which are not members of the EU. Changes to EEA that may affect Winter Fuel Payments are outlined here:
- in 1997 (start of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme): Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom
- on 1 May 2004, the following countries joined: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia
- on 1 January 2007, the following countries joined: Bulgaria, Romania
- On 1 July 2013, the following country joined: Croatia
- Switzerland is not a member of the EEA, but an agreement from 1 June 2002 means that the European Community rules on social security apply from that date. As a result, the Winter Fuel Payment may be paid in Switzerland in some circumstances
- from winter 2015 a change to the entitlement conditions meant that the Winter Fuel Payment was no longer payable to people living in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal, or Spain
Further details on how these changes impact the Winter Fuel Payment statistics can be found in the background, quality, and methodology report.
9. Related statistics
Cold Weather Payments – Estimated number of Cold Weather Payments and total amounts paid.
Contact: socialfundstrategy.singlepointofcontact@dwp.gov.uk
A Winter Fuel Payment is made annually to eligible pensioners between November and December and is a fixed amount that is not weather dependent. However, in periods of extreme cold weather between November and March, the Cold Weather Payment scheme provides additional support to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit, and other individuals vulnerable to cold weather, by providing an extra £25 payment for every seven-day period of below zero degrees Celsius temperatures in their area.
These statistics are based on the estimated number of benefit units linked to each weather station that is eligible for a Cold Weather Payment. A benefit unit is an adult and their partner (if applicable) and any dependent children living with them.
Northern Ireland Social Fund Annual Report – Part of Northern Ireland Department for Communities Statistics. The annual Winter Fuel Payment statistics for Northern Ireland are published in this report.
Contact: sspld@communities-ni.gov.uk
Benefit Expenditure and Caseload - Part of DWP welfare statistics.
Contact: expenditure.tables@dwp.gov.uk
The total amount spent on Winter Fuel Payments for people living outside Great Britain is reported within these statistics. However, expenditure for residents of Great Britain is covered by a separate report under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). It is part of the OBR’s independent reporting of benefit expenditure under the Budget Responsibility & National Audit Act 2011.
State Pension – Part of our DWP benefit statistics.
Contact: benefits.statistics@dwp.gov.uk
Whilst Winter Fuel Payments are not dependent on receipt of state support, people in receipt of State Pension make up a large proportion of Winter Fuel Payment recipients.
Fuel Poverty – Part of Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy statistics.
Contact: fuelpoverty@beis.gov.uk
Fuel poverty in England is measured by the Low-Income High Costs definition, which considers a household to be in fuel poverty if:
- they have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level)
- were they to spend that amount they would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line
The key drivers behind fuel poverty are:
- the energy efficiency of the property (and therefore, the energy required to heat and power the home)
- the cost of energy
- household income
10. Contacts
Lead Statistician: Jenny Kay
Produced by: Elliott Larkinson, Joseph Bull, Jennifer Laws, Clint Woo and Sophie Buckland
Email: wfp.statistics@dwp.gov.uk
DWP would like to hear your views on our statistical publications. If you use any of our statistics publications, we would be interested in hearing what you use them for and how well they meet your requirements. Please email DWP stats-consultation@dwp.gov.uk
ISBN: 978-1-78659-568-3