Starting this November, pensioners in the UK will receive a winter fuel payment of up to £300, aimed at helping with energy costs during the colder months.

The payment amounts vary based on age, living arrangements, and benefits received, with those born before September 22, 1945, eligible for the full £300, while others, especially those living with partners or in care homes, will receive between £100 and £200.

Eligibility has been expanded to include around nine million pensioners, following reforms that address previous restrictions which limited payments to means-tested benefit recipients.

In addition to the winter fuel payment, pensioners in Northern Ireland and Scotland may also be eligible for additional benefits, such as the pension age winter heating payment.

The UK government will distribute the winter fuel payments starting in November 2025, with payments up to £300, to help pensioners manage winter heating costs for the 2025-2026 season.

Most eligible pensioners will receive the payments automatically from November, but they will be notified by letter in October or November, and can check eligibility or claim if they do not receive a letter.

High-income pensioners with incomes over £35,000 can opt out of the payments before September 15, 2025, via the government website to avoid repayment, as HMRC will recover any payments made through tax adjustments.

Pensioners with incomes above £35,000 are excluded from the payments but have the option to opt out to prevent repayment, with the deadline for opting out set for September 15.

For those who do receive the payments despite high income, HMRC will recover the amounts through adjustments in their tax codes or tax returns.

The scheme's eligibility rules have been revised this year to include more pensioners, following criticism of last year's process which excluded many low and middle-income pensioners.

These changes aim to ensure more pensioners benefit from the payments, addressing previous shortcomings.

While most eligible pensioners will receive the payments automatically, claims can also be made via post or phone until March 31, 2026, if necessary.