Winter Fuel Payments

The Government will again be making Winter Fuel Payments to most people aged 60 or over for winter 2008/09.

A Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help people aged 60 and over with the costs of keeping warm this winter.

If you are aged 60 to 79 and you are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will get either £125 or £250, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week (15 to 21 September 2008).

If you are aged 80 or over and you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will either £200 or £400, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week.

You do not pay tax on Winter Fuel Payments.

If you need to make a claim for a payment for winter 2008/09, you should return your claim form on or before 30 March 2009.

In line with changes to State Pension age for women, the qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payments will rise gradually between 2010 and 2020, from 60 to 65. This means that from winter 2010/11 onwards, both men and women will need to have reached women's State Pension age by the end of the September qualifying week.