Winter Fuel Payments
Winter Fuel Payment update June 2025
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed the Winter Fuel Payment will be restored to all people over State Pension age with an income of £35,000 per year or less for the winter of 2025/26, following the UK Government’s u-turn earlier this month.
The payments will be made automatically to households with at least one member over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week. For the winter of 2025/26, this is 15-21 September 2025 and means that people born on or before 21 September 1959 will qualify providing their income is £35,000 per year or less.
The £35,000 threshold applies to you as an individual and does not include your partner’s income. If your taxable income is over £35,000, the payment you receive will be recovered by HMRC via PAYE or Self-Assessment if your taxable income is over £35,000.
Payments will be £200 per household or £300 for households where at least one person is aged 80 or over.
You do not need to do anything to receive the Winter Fuel Payment this year.
If anyone gets a suspicious email or text from GOV.UK, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Department for Communities asking for bank details, they should report it to Action Fraud. You should not respond or click on any links.
Age NI is extremely concerned about the impact means testing the Winter Fuel Payment will have on older people across Northern Ireland.
Read our statements on the proposed changes:
Age NI’s statement regarding the Chancellor’s announcement to means testing Winter Fuel Payment
Statement from Age NI regarding Communities Minister decision to means test Winter Fuel Payment
Response to Parliament's vote on changes to Winter Fuel Payment
Response to £100 winter payment for older people
Age NI urges older people to apply for Pension Credit on Fuel Poverty Awareness Day
Are you eligible for Pension Credit?
There are 26,000 older people in Northern Ireland eligible for means-tested benefits who currently aren't getting them. Use our Benefits Calculator and learn more about applying for Pension Credit from NI Direct.
Have your say
Join us in asking the government to halt their proposed change to the Winter Fuel Payment