State pensioners handed £300 by calling DWP from Monday, October 19

State pensioners handed £300 by calling DWP from Monday, October 19 Some pensioners will need to contact the DWP to get the payment. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Claire Schofield 11:00, Mon, Oct 19, 2026 Updated: 11:02, Mon, Oct 19, 2026 Telephone claims for the 2026 to 2027 Winter Fuel Payment opens on Monday, October 19 (Image: Getty) State pensioners who are not set to receive a Winter Fuel Payment automatically this winter are urged to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to claim their payment from today. Winter Fuel Payments are awarded to pensioners born on or before June 27, 1960, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and are worth between £100 and £300. In most cases, payments will be issued to pensioners by the DWP automatically with the money due to start arriving in bank accounts from next month. But not all eligible retirees will get an automatic payment and may need to submit a claim to the DWP to get the cash this winter . Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The DWP has set a deadline of March 31, 2027, for pensioners to do this so there’s plenty of time, but the window to make a telephone claim opens from today, Monday, October 19. Get personal finance news, money saving tips and advice plus selcted offers and competitions I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . HMRC confirms £33 automatic tax charges for state pensioners every month Automatic £200 payments confirmed for state pensioners under 80 You don’t need to claim your Winter Fuel Payment if you get certain benefits, which include any of the following: State Pension Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Pension Credit Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Universal Credit Attendance Allowance Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Carer’s Allowance Disability Living Allowance (DLA) income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) awards from the War Pensions Scheme Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Incapacity Benefit Industrial Death Benefit But if you don’t get any of these, you’ll need to contact the DWP to claim your payment if either of the following apply: you’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment If this is the case, you can call the DWP’s Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 to claim by phone. You’ll need to provide your National Insurance number, the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate) and your bank or building society details. You’ll also need to confirm your living circumstances during the qualifying week of September 21 to 27, 2026, as this will influence how much your payment will be. George Penny, Home Energy Expert at The Solar Co , said: “With telephone claims opening on Monday 19th October, anyone who may need to actively claim this year’s Winter Fuel Payment should use the next few days to check their eligibility and get the right information together. “Our analysis suggests up to 154,000 older people across England and Wales could currently be deferring their State Pension, making them one of the key groups who may need to claim the benefit worth between £100 and £300, rather than receive the payment automatically. “Not all of these people will need to call, as some will receive another qualifying benefit that triggers automatic payment. However, if you don’t receive State Pension or another qualifying benefit, and you’ve either never received Winter Fuel Payment before or deferred your State Pension since your last payment, it’s worth checking whether you need to make a claim.” According to the DWP, if you live on your own or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you’ll get either £200 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £300 if you were born before September 28, 1946. If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment then your payment amount may be different. Pensioners should also be aware that if your total individual income is over £35,000, HMRC will automatically take your Winter Fuel Payment back. Winter fuel payment State Pension DWP Benefits Winter Heating Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments