The Winter Fuel Payment, which was cut back in 2024, will be restored to many households this coming winter, the British Gas Energy Trust has said. The trust describes the change as a partial U-turn by the UK government1.
Millions of households in England and Wales will automatically get between £100 and £300 if residents were born before 22 September 1959, according to the trust. The exact amount depends on criteria it describes as complex and on people's circumstances during the qualifying week of 15-21 September 2025. It will only be available for people whose income is less than £35,000 a year. Those who are eligible will receive a letter in October or November saying how much they are set to get1.
Scotland operates a different scheme, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, with similar payment schedules1.
"The Winter Fuel Payment, which was cut back in 2024, will be restored to many this coming winter"
Other support runs alongside it. The Warm Home Discount is a one-off payment of £150 applied as credit to electricity bills, available to many who receive Pension Credit or are on low incomes. Eligible people in England and Wales get it automatically, but those in Scotland must apply to their energy provider. Both schemes open in October 20251.
Cold Weather Payments of £25 apply where the temperature drops below freezing for seven days straight between 1 November and 31 March, for households already on benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit or other low-income benefits. They are paid automatically into the account where benefits are paid, and are not available in Scotland. Scotland's Winter Heating Payment pays people on similar benefits just under £60 irrespective of temperature, and the automatic Child Winter Heating Payment of £255.80 goes to families of disabled children and young people1.
| Scheme | Nation | Amount | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Fuel Payment | England and Wales | £100 to £300 | Automatic for eligible households |
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment | Scotland | Similar schedules | Not stated |
| Warm Home Discount | England and Wales | £150 | Automatic, as electricity bill credit |
| Warm Home Discount | Scotland | £150 | Apply to energy provider |
| Cold Weather Payments | England and Wales | £25 per qualifying spell | Automatic into benefits account |
| Winter Heating Payment | Scotland | Just under £60 | Not stated |
| Child Winter Heating Payment | Scotland | £255.80 | Automatic |
Local authorities also run schemes through the Household Support Fund, with varying eligibility criteria, to help with the cost of food, gas, electricity and water1.
Why it matters for households
For pensioner households in England and Wales, the return of the payment restores a direct contribution to winter heating costs that was withdrawn in 2024. The income limit of £35,000 a year means the payment now reaches a narrower group than before the cut back, so a household's position depends on both age and income in the qualifying week. Because payment is automatic for those who qualify, the practical effect for a home's energy independence is a smaller winter bill without an application. The letter in October or November is the point at which a household learns its amount1.
The other schemes work differently. The Warm Home Discount is fixed at £150 and, in Scotland, requires an application to the energy provider rather than arriving automatically. Cold Weather Payments depend on sustained freezing temperatures rather than on need alone, so their value varies by winter and by region. Scotland's Winter Heating Payment does not depend on temperature, which makes it more predictable but set at a lower figure1.
What happens next
Both the Winter Fuel Payment and the Warm Home Discount open in October 20251. The qualifying week for the Winter Fuel Payment is 15-21 September 2025, and eligibility letters are due in October or November1. The trust notes that its post has not been updated in a while and that some details may no longer be accurate1.
Sources1 cited
- Energy support returns for millions this winter - British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk