Pensioners receive letters about winter payments: who will receive up to £300.

Letters for pensioners with news about heating payments

According to The Sun: Pensioners will start receiving letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) containing information about new heating payments during the winter period.

This financial assistance will be available to over nine million people, with amounts reaching up to £300 to help ease electricity bills during the cold season.

Letters with information about eligibility for payments will start arriving today.

While the maximum amount of assistance is £300, the number of payments will depend on the birth date and circumstances during the qualifying week, which lasted from September 15 to 21 this year.

Pensioners born before September 22, 1959, with an income not exceeding £35,000, can expect a payment ranging from £100 to £300 to cover heating costs.

Those planning to receive funds must be at least 66 years old by the end of the qualifying week.

DWP has confirmed that it will begin sending letters to pensioners in England and Wales, and payments will be made automatically in November and December.

“You will receive a letter in October or November stating the amount you will receive as winter assistance if you are eligible.”

“If you haven’t received a letter but believe you are eligible, check if you need to apply.”

“Any money you receive will not affect your other payments.”

This funding was made possible after changes to the eligibility for winter funds made last winter.

The £300 payment was scrapped for millions of pensioners, and only those receiving specific benefits could claim it.

This move caused significant public outcry, as around 10 million pensioners lost their winter support.

The government saved £1.4 billion, but this led to mass protests, forcing a return to previous conditions.

People in Scotland will not receive winter assistance, as payments for pensioners are provided instead for heating.

This program has similar eligibility criteria as DWP, but payments will be made automatically by the Scottish social service from the end of November.

Who is not eligible for payment?

There are several reasons why you may not receive winter assistance.

You will not receive payment if your income exceeds £35,000. HMRC will automatically return any payment using your tax code or declaration.

Your income may include various sources, including private pensions and state benefits.

• living outside England and Wales
• being in the hospital for free treatment for the entire week from September 15 to 21, 2025, and the previous year
• the requirement to obtain a visa to enter the UK that prohibits receiving state funds
• being incarcerated for the entire week from September 15 to 21, 2025

How to receive payment?

Most people receive this assistance automatically, so no application is necessary.

If you have not received a letter, contact DWP.

“If you haven’t received a letter or the funds have not arrived in your account by January 28, 2026, contact the Winter Help Centre.”

You may also refuse winter assistance by completing a refusal form by September 14 or calling the helpline by 6:00 PM on September 12.

Other ways to support utility bill payments

Household Support Fund – £500

If you are struggling to pay energy bills, you can apply for help through the Household Support Fund (HSF).

Each council has a share of £742 million, which can be distributed among households throughout the UK.

Assistance can be provided in the form of cash for household goods, supermarket vouchers, and funds for energy payments.

The amount you may receive varies from council to council, but in the past, households have received up to £500 to cover electricity costs.

Keep an eye on your local council's website or social media for more information on how to apply.

Warm Home Discount – £150

This program offers families in difficult situations a £150 discount on their electricity bills.

If you are eligible, your energy supplier will automatically apply the discount to your account.

To qualify, you must be receiving the guaranteed part of pension credit or have a low income with high energy costs.

Households qualifying for this program receive the discount automatically.

Cold Weather Payments – from £25

This assistance is provided to families when the temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius.

To receive this support, you must be receiving certain benefits, such as Universal Credit, pension credit, or mortgage support.

The temperature must be at zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days for payment to be made.

No application is necessary – money will automatically be sent to the accounts of eligible individuals within 14 days.

If you meet the criteria, you will receive £25 for each seven-day period of extremely cold weather.

Free boiler up to £7,500

Through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, households can receive grants of up to £7,500 for installing heat pumps in their homes.

Heat pumps can reduce energy costs by £100-350 per year and are more environmentally friendly.

Application for the grant can be made by first contacting a certified MCS installer for a quote.

A list of certified installers is available on the msccertified.com website.

Energy grants worth thousands

Many energy suppliers offer grants to their customers facing difficulties.

For example, British Gas offers the option to pay back bills over six months.

To learn more, search for British Gas You Pay: We Pay.

Other suppliers, such as EDF, also provide support through their assistance fund.

This program can help cover costs for appliances or debt.

Applications for this program can be submitted at www.edfenergy.com/help-support/faq/get-help-our-customer-support-fund.

Octopus Energy, Scottish Power, Utilita, and Utility Warehouse also offer similar programs.

Always consult your supplier to find out what support is available.

Free solar panels and insulation for heat pumps – £10,500

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme is a government energy efficiency program aimed at reducing carbon emissions and fighting fuel poverty in the UK.

This program allows energy suppliers to carry out work in your home for free, including the installation of solar panels or heat pumps.

As part of this initiative, Octopus Energy offers to install solar panels and heat pumps in up to 1,000 households for free.

The cost of installing a heat pump is typically around £4,400, while installing a solar panel is about £6,100.

If you qualify for both programs, you could save up to £10,500.