DWP to hand £335 to state pensioners in time for Christmas

DWP to hand £335 to state pensioners in time for Christmas Eligible pensioners can get vital financial support this winter. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Claire Schofield 16:42, Sun, Oct 25, 2026 Updated: 16:51, Sun, Oct 25, 2026 Several DWP winter schemes will give eligible pensioners an extra boost of cash (Image: Getty) The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to give up to £335 worth of free handouts to eligible state pensioners before Christmas. The money is available via several DWP schemes including the Winter Fuel Payment , Cold Weather Payments and a one-off Christmas bonus , some of which will be paid before Christmas . While December 25 may still be a long way off, the big day will come around before you know it and the build up can take its toll on household budgets, so some extra financial help is always welcome. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT As with all government schemes, state pensioners will need to meet strict criteria to be eligible for the support, but with several winter payments up for grabs, it’s possible that some will qualify for everything, which could be worth up to £335 this winter. Listed is a rundown of the upcoming DWP winter schemes state pensioners can qualify for and how much they could get. 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 . State pensioners under 77 set for £488 boost under Andy Burnham HMRC sending tax bills to state pensioners with Winter Fuel Payments Winter Fuel Payment - up to £300 State pensioners who were born on or before June 27, 1960, and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can get a Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The payment is worth between £100 and £300, with the amount you get determined by your age and your circumstances during the qualifying week between September 21 to 27, 2026. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT According to the eligibility criteria for this winter, those who live alone and were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, will get a £200 payment, while those who live alone and were born before September 28, 1946 will get £300. If you live with someone else who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment your payment may be different and will range between £100 and £300. Most pensioners will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible and the DWP will send out letters in October and November confirming the payment amount. The payments will then be issued in November and December. Christmas Bonus - £10 The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax free payment made before Christmas to people claiming certain benefits in the first full week of December. The qualifying benefits include several pension-age benefits including the State Pension , Pension Credit, Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance . To be eligible for the bonus, you must be getting at least one of the qualifying benefits in the ‘qualifying week’, which is normally the first full week of December. If eligible, you don’t need to claim the bonus as this should be paid to you automatically and will show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement. Cold Weather Payment - £25 If the temperature where you live drops to 0C or below for seven consecutive days, you’ll be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment worth £25 this winter. While these payments aren’t available to all state pensioners, you can get them if you’re claiming Pension Credit, so those on low incomes will benefit if the weather turns particularly chilly later this year. You’ll get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2026 and March 31, 2026, and if eligible, these payments will be issued to you automatically. DWP State Pension Winter fuel payment Cold Weather Payment Energy bills Benefits Pension Credit Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments