If you were expecting your Winter Fuel Payment and haven’t received it yet, you’re not alone – some payments can be delayed or missed.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December, and a letter should confirm how much you’ll get and which bank account it will be paid into.
If your payment hasn’t arrived by 28 January, the Government advises taking action as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out, but you only have a limited amount of time to claim it.
When you should have received your Winter Fuel Payment
According to the Government, most Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically between November and December.
If you qualify, you should receive a letter explaining how much you’ll get and which bank account it will be paid into.
If you have not received either the letter or the payment by 28 January 2026, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to check what has happened.
What to do if your payment hasn’t arrived
You should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you believe you’re eligible and:
- Your payment has not been paid into your bank account
- You did not receive a confirmation letter
- Your circumstances have changed since last winter
When you get in touch, you’ll usually need your National Insurance number and bank details.
Your deadline to claim – and important extra rules
The final deadline to claim the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2025 to 2026 is 31 March 2026.
You should also contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre as soon as possible to report any changes to your circumstances, such as moving home or moving into a care home, as these can affect how much you receive.
So if you haven’t received your Winter Fuel Payment by now, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre without delay, and remember that the final deadline to make a claim is 31 March 2026.
