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Winter Heating Allowance 2022 to 2023

The UK Winter Fuel Payment 2022 helps older people pay their heating bills. Check who qualifies for the heating allowance this year, when it's paid, and how to claim.

There is a qualifying age for the winter fuel allowance 2022. Hence, the payment is only for older age pensioners (OAP).

Winter Fuel Payment

The 2022 Winter Fuel Payment allowance is for elderly citizens. You must have been born no later than the 25th of September 1956 to qualify (for the current year).

Hence, most seniors are eligible to get the pensioners winter fuel allowance 2022. So, if your age is 66 (or older) you could claim £100 to £300 tax-free benefits.

How does it work?

As a rule, DHSS Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners are automatic. They are paid into a secure account along with other welfare payments.

Anyone who qualifies should get the money between the first week of November and the last day of December.

Most seniors should get their heating allowance payment before the Christmas holiday periods. But, there is a set qualification criteria.

So, here’s the deal:

The Winter Fuel Payment could help you pay your heating bills through the cold months. Contact the office that pays your benefits if you qualify – but do not get paid.

You must already be getting either the State Pension or certain other social security benefits that qualify for the payment.

In some cases, you might need to make a claim using the application form or by telephone (see further details below).


Winter Fuel Payment Entitlement

How much is Winter Fuel Payment 2022? The exact amount you get can vary. It depends most on your situation during the actual qualifying week.

The qualifying week for wintertime heating allowance 2021 to 2022 was the 20th to the 26th of September. Any payment you get is TAX FREE and will not affect your other allowances and benefits.

Your Circumstances and Qualification Criteria Born between the 27th of September 1941 and the 25th of September 1956 Born on or before the 26th of September 1941
You have entitlement and live alone (or no one you live with qualifies) £200 £300
You have entitlement and live with another entitled claimant who is under 80 years of age £100 £200
You have entitlement and live with an entitled claimant who is 80 years of age (or older) £100 £150
You have entitlement, live in a care home, and are not receiving any of the associated benefits listed below* £100 £150
You have entitlement, live in a care home, and get one of the associated benefits listed below* Not available Not available
You have entitlement, get one of the associated benefits, and live alone (or no one you live with qualifies) £200 £300
You have entitlement and live with another person who also qualifies for one of the associated benefits £200 (only one claimant gets the payment) £300 (only one claimant gets the payment)

*Associated Benefits: Income-related Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Pension Credit.

Important: The exact Winter Fuel Payment date changes every year. It is only one of the winter fuel benefits available. Claiming Winter Fuel Payment 2022 to 2023 does not affect your rights to benefit entitlements. So, you might also qualify for Cold Weather Payments and the Warm Home Discount Scheme.


Winter Fuel Allowance 2022 Start Date

As a rule, the pensioners heating allowance payments start at the same time as the British cold months begin to bite.

The Winter Fuel Payment is usually transferred from November to the end of December. That means you should get this year’s payment no later than the 14th of January 2022.

Winter Fuel Payment 2022/23 Eligibility Criteria in the United KingdomPensioners Fuel Allowance UK Payment Dates

The benefits Winter Fuel Payment Office send you a letter stating how much you will get.

The letter also confirms when the scheduled dates for the Winter Fuel Payment 2022 to 2023 will be.

Like most benefits and allowance payments, the money goes into a secure bank or building society account.


Winter Fuel Allowance 2022/23 Eligibility

Seniors will appreciate some financial help to cover the cost of staying warm in the cold season. Hence, the main question you will be asking is: who qualifies for winter heating allowance 2022/23?

More important is, ‘what is the winter heating allowance qualifying age’ and the ‘Winter Fuel Payment eligibility’ criteria?

You may have entitlement to heating benefits based on two qualifications. You will be eligible to get the Winter Fuel Payment for 2022 to 2023 providing you:

  1. Were born on or before the 26th of September in 1956 (the qualifying date changes each year).
  2. Live in the United Kingdom for at least one day of the ‘qualifying week’. That means the week of the 20th to the 26th of September 2021.

In some cases, you could still get the payment even if you live in Switzerland or one of the countries in the EU and EEA.

In case you were wondering:

You would need to have a genuine link with the social security system in the United Kingdom. A typical example would be someone who has lived or worked for most of their life in the UK.

Note: If you get Child Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit, or Universal Credit it will not result in an automatic qualification.

You cannot receive the winter heating allowance 2022/23 payment if you live in certain countries. In fact, parts of the EEA have cold season average temperatures higher than the warmest areas around the UK. These include France, Cyprus, Greece, Gibraltar, Portugal, Spain, and Malta.


Qualifying Week: 20 to 26 September 2021

Even if you are over 60 during the qualifying week you will be ineligible to get the Winter Fuel Payment if you:

  • Are serving a sentence inside a prison during the entire qualifying week.
  • Are getting free treatment in hospital for more than 52 weeks.
  • Need permission to enter the UK and cannot get help from the Department for Work and Pensions.
  • Were living in France, Greece, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, or Malta.
  • Have lived inside a care home for all 12 weeks between the 28th of June and the 26th of September 2021 getting Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, or Pension Credit.

Reporting a Change in Circumstances

You should report any change of circumstance to the office that is paying your benefits. Certain types of circumstantial changes can affect how much winter fuel benefit you get.

You can try contacting:

You must write to keep them informed about any changes because the Winter Fuel Payment is automatic.

A typical example could be if the qualifying person stops receiving their benefit. Also, report changes such as if they move out, go into care, or die.


How to Claim Winter Fuel Allowance

In some cases, you will need to make a claim for Winter Fuel Payment. This would be most likely if you are having to make a claim for the first time.

So, you may need to claim if:

Exceptions also apply if you receive benefits or the State Pension but you are living in an EEA country or Switzerland. Exclusions include France, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, Spain, and Portugal.

People who have claimed it before should get an automatic payment. You should receive it again from the same organisation that pays your benefits. You can contact them if you need further help or to report a change in your situation.

Note: The deadline for claiming the Winter Fuel Payment 2021 was Wednesday the 31st of March 2022.


Claim Winter Fuel Payment for the First Time

If you are a new claimant you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline to make your first claim by phone.

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Email Enquiry Form
Telephone: 0800 731 0160
Outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 7777
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 7280
NGT text relay: 18001 then 0800 731 0160
Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
Telephone rates in United Kingdom.

Note: You have from the 1st of August 2021 to the 31st of March 2022 to make a claim for winter 2021 to 2022. Important information and other details you will need to prepare include:

  • Your unique National Insurance (NI) number.
  • Details of your bank or building society account.
  • BIC and IBAN numbers (those who live in Switzerland or EEA country).
  • The date that you got married or the date you entered into a civil partnership (where appropriate).

Note: As a rule, payments cannot go straight into a National Savings and Investments (NS&I) account. The exception could be if you already have other benefits paid into that account.

You must inform the benefits office of certain situations during the qualifying week of 20-26th September 2021. In particular, if during that week you will be in:

  • Hospital and receiving free in-patient treatment.
  • Ilford Park Resettlement Home or a residential care home.
  • Prison or in custody (serving a court sentence).

Important: A new advice website can help you find ways to save energy and make your home cheaper to keep warm and heat (if you own a property in England or Wales).


Winter Fuel Payment Application Form

There are two different types of winter fuel allowance application forms. The form you need depends on which country you are living in.

People who live in the United Kingdom should send the claim form to this Winter Fuel Payment Office address.

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LR

Those who live in Switzerland or another EEA country should send the claim form to this address instead.

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1ZU
United Kingdom

Note: We uploaded a new video explaining more about Winter Fuel Payment 2022/23 to help pensioners understand how it works. Please like and subscribe to get notifications of our future YouTube videos.


Appeal a Decision or Make a Complaint

If you disagree with a decision you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. Rule changes mean you must now ask for ‘mandatory reconsideration‘ before you make the appeal.

Note: You can also complain to the Department for Work and Pensions if you are unhappy with the service they have given to you. This guide is also available in Welsh language (Cymraeg).


Winter Fuel Payment 2022 to 2023 for Pensioners in United Kingdom