For  First Time Claimants

You may get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2011/12 if both the following apply:

• you have reached the qualifying age (born on or before 5 January 1951) 
• you normally live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland on any day in the week of 19–25 September 2011

But you won’t qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if, throughout the week of 19–25 September 2011:

• you were in hospital for more than 52 weeks previously, getting free treatment as an inpatient 
• you were in custody serving a court sentence 
• you were subject to immigration control and did not qualify for help from the Department for Work and Pensions
• you lived in a care home, an independent hospital or Ilford Park Polish Resettlement Home (and had done so for the previous 12 weeks or more) and you were on Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Also, you can't get a Winter Fuel Payment if you move to another European Economic Area country or Switzerland and didn't qualify before you moved. click here for information If you're claiming Winter Fuel Payment and moving abroad (government website)

How it's paid

Winter Fuel Payment is paid for the household.

You will be paid directly into your bank account or by cheque depending on what you have requested.

If you’re receiving benefits

You’ll receive your Winter Fuel Payment in the same way as you usually receive your State Pension or benefit. Apart from Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit,

There will be one payment for both of you, if you’re a couple and both receiving any of the following:

• Pension Credit
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance 
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance

If your partner gets any of the above benefits for you both, your partner will receive the full amount for both of you.

The amount you can get and when you will be paid

The amount of Winter Fuel Payment you can get for winter 2011/12 varies according to your personal situation. Find out how much you can get and when you will be paid.

The amounts paid

The amount of Winter Fuel Payment has changed. The amount you get for winter 2011/12 is likely be different to last winter.

These are the amounts of Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2011/12 listed by your personal situation.

When payment is made

Most payments are made between November and December 2011. Over twelve million payments are being made during this time. It’s not possible to be more detailed about when you will receive your Winter Fuel Payment. You will receive a notification letter and this will give you a more specific estimated payment date.

Due to how payments are made, you could receive your payment at a different time to someone in your household or living near you.

Do not contact the government about when you’ll receive your payment - unless you have not received it by January 2012.

Qualifying dates for Winter Fuel Payment in the future

If you have not yet reached State Pension age, the following table explains when you will qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment.

The table is based on the current State Pension age. It does not include the proposed changes in the Pensions Bill 2011.

Winter Fuel Payment qualifying dates

Those who don't need to claim

If you receive State Pension or certain other benefits you will be paid automatically and don’t need to claim.

You don't need to claim if you're eligible and receiving at least one of the following (during the week of 19–25 September 2011):

• State Pension
• Employment and Support Allowance 
• Income Support 
• Jobseeker’s Allowance 
• Pension Credit 
• Attendance Allowance 
• Bereavement Benefit 
• Carer’s Allowance 
• Disability Living Allowance 
• Graduated Retirement Benefit 
• Incapacity Benefit 
• Industrial Injuries Benefits 
• Severe Disablement Allowance 
• War Pension 
• Widow’s Benefit

The Winter Fuel Payment won't affect your other benefits and you won't have to pay Income Tax on it.

People who will need to claim

You’ll need to claim your Winter Fuel Payment if the following apply:

• you qualify
• you’re not receiving any of the benefits above in ‘Who doesn’t need to claim’
• you are getting Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit only

You’ll need to claim if you have received a Winter Fuel Payment before but your circumstances have changed. For example you have stopped receiving any of the benefits above in ‘Who doesn’t need to claim’ or deferred your State Pension.

You still need to claim even if your partner is already receiving a Winter Fuel Payment for your household.

Applying

To apply you can complete the claim form on screen or print it out and fill it in with black ink. You then need to post the completed form to the address below. The deadline for a claim being received is 30 March 2012.

• Download 'Winter Fuel Payment claim form' (PDF, 215K)   (from government website)

Completed forms need to be sent to:

Winter Fuel Payment Team
Department for Work and Pensions
PO Box 10142
Annesley
Nottingham

You can get a claim form sent to you. Call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 0845 9 15 15 15.

What happens when you claim.

If you make a successful claim and we receive your claim form before 23 September 2011 you should get paid before Christmas.

If your claim form is completed correctly and you supplied any necessary documents, such as your birth certificate, you'll get a letter acknowledging this.

You will be contacted if you have not filled in the form correctly or additional information is needed.

If you don’t complete the form in full and supply all the required information you may not receive your payment before Christmas.

Most payments will be issued from November through to December. You will then receive another letter telling you how much you will receive and when this is likely to be paid.

Any claims made after 23 September will be paid in 2012.

Claiming for past winters

If you are eligible, you can claim Winter Fuel Payments for the years 1997/98 to 1999/2000.

From 2000/01 time limits for claims were introduced. This means that payments can't be made for late claims for any winters from 2000/01 onwards.

Claims for these winters had to be received by 30 March for the relevant winter. For example, a claim for winter 2011/12 has to received by 30 March 2012.

Print and complete the claim form with black ink.

• Download 'Winter Fuel Payment claim for UK for past winters 1997/98, 1998/99 and 1999/2000 (WFP1R)' (PDF, 265K   (from government website)

Send the completed forms need to :

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Department for Work and Pensions
PO Box 22
Gateshead
NE92 1BX

You need not to claim

If you received a Winter Fuel Payment last year and you still qualify, you should get your Winter Fuel Payment automatically this year. You do not need to claim again.

If your situation has changed use the government link below.–' what to do if there’s a change in your situation’ to find out more.

• Winter Fuel Payment - what to do if there's a change in your situation

How much and when you will be paid if you've received it before.

The amount of Winter Fuel Payment you can get for winter 2011/12 varies according to your personal situation. Find when you are paid and how much you can get.

How much your paid

The amount of Winter Fuel Payment has changed. The amount you get for winter 2011/12 is likely be different to last winter.

These are the amounts of Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2011/12 listed by your personal situation.

When it's paid

Most payments are made between November and December 2011. Over twelve million payments are being made during this time. It’s not possible to be more detailed about when you will receive your Winter Fuel Payment. You will receive a notification letter and this will give you a more specific estimated payment date.

Due to how payments are made, you could receive your payment at a different time to someone in your household or living near you.

Only contact the government if you have not received your payment by January 2012.