Millions of older people across the UK are set to receive a financial boost worth up to £460 before Christmas, with three separate payments from the Department for Work and Pensions arriving automatically in the coming weeks.
Rising energy bills and household costs have put extra pressure on pensioners this year, making winter support payments particularly important.
Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.
Eligible pensioners will not need to fill out any forms or make applications. The money will arrive directly in their bank accounts over the coming weeks, providing timely relief exactly when it is needed.
Around 12 million older people are expected to benefit from this winter package.
Here is the full list of payments:
1. Winter Fuel Payment – Provides £200 for each household where someone receives the state pension.
Those aged 80 or above will receive £300 to help cover heating costs.
People with higher incomes above £35,000 will still receive it initially, but HMRC will later reclaim the money through PAYE or self-assessment tax returns.
- Warm Home Discount – Offers a one-off £150 credit applied directly to electricity accounts.
For households using prepayment meters or Pay-As-You-Go systems, a £150 voucher is provided instead to top up meters.
Energy suppliers fund the scheme, and some have already started accepting applications for this year's round.
It is worth checking with your provider to see if applications are open.
Around 12 million older people are expected to benefit from this winter package
|GETTY
- Christmas Bonus – A tax-free £10 payment arriving in early December.
It is available to everyone receiving the state pension and various other benefits.
While £10 may seem modest, it provides a welcome contribution to festive costs and can help stretch household budgets.
These three payments combined can provide up to £460 in extra support for pensioners.
The Prime Minister hasn't offered an apology to those who missed out last winter
| PAFor households with someone over 80, that means £300 from the Winter Fuel Payment, £150 from the Warm Home Discount, and £10 from the Christmas Bonus.
The timing of the payments could be particularly useful, arriving in the weeks leading up to Christmas when household budgets are under pressure.
Having the money arrive automatically ensures pensioners do not have to worry about missing deadlines or navigating complicated application processes.
This winter support could make a tangible difference when temperatures drop and heating becomes essential.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
It helps pensioners keep their homes warm without having to choose between paying energy bills and other necessities.
This comes after political pressure to reinstate the full Winter Fuel Payment, which was initially scrapped last winter, with 9.3 million people missing out from the year prior.
Millions of older people are set to benefit, highlighting the scale of the DWP’s winter support package.
The combination of automatic payments, staggered timing, and targeted assistance ensures that help reaches those who need it most.
The Winter Fuel Payment can help towards energy bills
| PAWith energy costs remaining high, this support will ease financial pressure during the coldest months of the year.
For pensioners, receiving these payments provides reassurance and stability at a time when household budgets are stretched.
The system has become a vital lifeline for older people, helping them avoid the difficult choices many face in winter.
These DWP payments represent a significant commitment to ensuring older people can manage rising energy costs and other household expenses this winter.