Deadline approaches for people who need to apply for winter fuel payment

Most people don’t need to apply for a winter fuel payment. They’ll receive it automatically. However, if you’re eligible and you live abroad, the deadline to make a claim is the end of this month.

What is the winter fuel payment?

The winter fuel payment or winter fuel allowance is a tax-free payment of £200 or £300 to help older people on certain benefits in England, Wales or Northern Ireland cover the cost of heating their homes during the colder months.

I live abroad – am I eligible for the winter fuel payment?

Although you live abroad, you might still be eligible for the winter fuel payment if:

• you were born before 23 September 1958
• you get a UK state pension
• you’re on UK benefits
• your link to the UK is genuine and sufficient
• you’re covered by the Withdrawal Agreement 

What is a ‘genuine and sufficient’ link? 

This can include having lived or worked in the UK and having family here.

Am I covered by the Withdrawal Agreement?

Following Brexit, the Withdrawal Agreement protects the rights of UK nationals and their family members living in EU countries.

You’re covered if you’re a UK national who was living in an eligible EEA country or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 and you meet one of the residence conditions.

The residence conditions are:

• You work or are self-employed in the country where you live.
• You are a student and have enough money to support yourself, along with comprehensive sickness insurance.
• You are self-sufficient and have enough money to support yourself, along with comprehensive sickness insurance.
• You have the right of permanent residence.

If you’re living in Ireland, you don’t need to have moved by 31 December 2020 but you need to meet the other rules. 

You must also be getting a qualifying means-tested benefit from the country you live in equivalent to:

• pension credit
• universal credit
• working tax credit
• child tax credit
• income support
• income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• income-related employment and support allowance

You must have been getting this benefit during the qualifying week (16-22 September 2024). 

Do I live in an eligible country?

The eligible countries are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Germany
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland 

How do I claim the winter fuel payment?

You can apply by post or phone. The deadline is 31 March.

To claim by post

If you’re a UK national or UK dual national living in an eligible country other than Ireland, download and fill in form IPCF091. 

If you've claimed before, you’ll need to include evidence of the means-tested benefit you get in the winter fuel payment additional information form.

If you’ve not claimed before, you’ll need to fill in a winter fuel payment claim form as well.

Send the completed forms to: 

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

To claim by phone

Ring +44 (0)191 218 7777 or textphone contact Relay UK on +44 (0)151 494 2022 then 0800 731 0160.

Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

Find out about call charges.

You’ll need: 

• your bank details
• your BIC and IBAN numbers
• your national insurance number
• the date you married or entered a civil partnership (if relevant)