Winter Fuel Payment scams are on the rise as state pensioners face an alarming 153 per cent increase in fraudulent messages related to the benefit, according to new Government data.
A surge in scam referrals during the last week of September comes as criminals exploit the approaching distribution of the up to £300 in legitimate energy bill payments payments scheduled for next month.
Scammers are dispatching deceptive communications claiming to originate from the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) handling of Winter Fuel Payment applications.
According to Labour Government ministers, these malicious attempts target vulnerable state pensioners precisely when authentic payments are due to handed out to claimants.
Winter Fuel Payment scams are on the rise, the DWP has warned
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The spike follows a temporary decline after June's peak activity. Now it appears that scammers have renewed their efforts as the November payment window approaches.
Recently, the DWP launched an urgent awareness initiative alongside Action Fraud to combat these deceptive schemes. Social media campaigns and charity partnerships aim to protect vulnerable pensioners from falling victim to sophisticated fraud attempts.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden condemned the criminals behind these schemes. "If you get a text message about Winter Fuel Payments, it's a scam. They will be made automatically so you do not need to apply," he stated.
"These despicable attempts by criminals to target people are on the rise. We are raising awareness to make it harder for fraudsters to succeed," Mr McFadden added.
Pat McFadden has hit back at Winter Fuel Payment scammers
| GETTYRecipients of suspicious communications should immediately forward them to 7726, the Government's dedicated reporting service. These messages must then be deleted without any engagement or response.
The Government emphasises that authentic Winter Fuel Payments require no action from recipients. Eligible pensioners will receive official correspondence in October or November detailing their payment amount.
Legitimate funds will arrive automatically in bank accounts between mid-November and December 2025. The Government never requests banking information via text message.
Those who suspect they have fallen victim to fraud should contact their bank and police immediately. Swift reporting helps authorities track criminal networks targeting Britain's elderly population.
Additional financial assistance remains available through the means-tested benefit Pension Credit, offering an average annual value of £4,300 for qualifying low-income pensioners.
Those who have care requirements may also be able to access Attendance Allowance for further support, acting similarly to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for working-age people.
Last year, the Labour Government attempted to link eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments solely to Pension Credit in a move which was widely criticised by anti-poverty campaigners and pensioner rights groups.
However, ministers U-turned on those policy and instead introduced a £35,000 taxable income threshold above which payments are recovered. This comes into effect this year.
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Eligibility of Winter Fuel Payment in winter 2024 to 2025 linked to means-tested benefits | DWPRachel Vahey, head of public policy at AJ Bell, addressed the concerns many state pensioners could have about application requirements.
"Many pensioners may wonder if there is a requirement to submit new information to the Government because of the changes over the past year, but your payments will be made automatically, and you shouldn't have to respond to text messages, emails or phone calls to make sure they are paid," she explained.
On potential scams, Ms Vahey added: "While it’s easy to get distracted by all the paperwork and tasks that pile up in daily life, it’s important to be cautious and always double-check any request for your personal details – particularly those claiming to be from Government departments.
"Many pensioners may wonder if there is a requirement to submit new information to the Government because of the changes over the past year, but your payments will be made automatically, and you shouldn’t have to respond to text messages, emails or phone calls to make sure they are paid."
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