State Pensioners in these six groups set to be denied DWP’s £300 Winter Fuel Payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will not be handing out the £300 Winter Fuel Payment to six groups of state pensioners this year – here’s everything you need to know

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has disclosed the groups of state pensioners who will not be eligible for the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance.

Six categories of individuals will not qualify. Ineligibility applies to those living outside England and Wales, or those hospitalised receiving free treatment during the entire week of 15 to 21 September 2025, and the preceding year required permission to enter the UK with granted leave stating they cannot claim public funds.

Ineligibility also extends to those in prison during the entire week of 15 to 21 September 2025, or residents of care homes. Lastly, those receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or those residing in a care home since 23 June 2025 or earlier, will not qualify.

Assistance is available for those struggling to pay their gas and electricity bills. The Ofgem energy price cap is set to rise from £1,720 per annum to £1,755 for the average dual fuel household paying by direct debit from October, reports Birmingham Live.

DWP Winter Fuel Payments are cash payments worth £200 for qualifying households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.

These payments are made to pensioners born before September 22 , 1959 with disbursements typically commencing from November.

If your income exceeds £35,000, you’ll still receive the payment, but it will need to be repaid through the tax system.

You have the option to decline the payment entirely. The income threshold is calculated on an individual basis.

For instance, if you earn £30,000 annually and your partner earns £40,000, one person would retain their portion of the Winter Fuel Payment while the other would be required to repay it.

It comes as the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests that the next State Pension increase is set to be determined by earnings growth, currently standing at 5 per cent. Under the Triple Lock system, State Pensions rise each year in line with whichever is the highest of average annual earnings growth from May to July, CPI in the year to September or 2.5 per cent.

However, while millions of pensioners across Great Britain can expect a payment boost in April next year, nearly half a million people of State Pension age will not be eligible for the increase. It’s estimated that 453,000 pensioners are living in a country without a reciprocal agreement with the UK Government, meaning they won’t receive the annual State Pension increase.

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