Eligibility

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before 22 September 1959 and live in England or Wales.

When you will not be eligible

You will not be eligible if you:

  • live outside England and Wales
  • have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
  • 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 get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. You will not be eligible if both of the following apply:

  • you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • you lived in a care home for the whole time from 23 June 2025 or earlier