State pensioners born before 1944 to receive £100 payment boost from DWP

A new wave of headlines about a “£100 payment increase” for state pensioners born before 1944 is mainly about how the Winter Fuel Payment is structured.

For winter 2025–26, people who were born before 23 September 1944 fall into the older age band for the Winter Fuel Payment. That age band is paid at a higher rate than the next band down, which is why it is often described as a £100 increase.

In simple terms:

• Born before 23 September 1944: higher Winter Fuel Payment amount
• Born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958: lower Winter Fuel Payment amount
• The gap between those two standard rates is £100 in many common situations

What Is The Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is a yearly payment intended to help older people with heating costs during winter. Most eligible pensioners receive it automatically without applying, and it is usually paid into the same bank account where benefits are paid.

The payment amount depends on:

• Your date of birth (age band)
• Whether you live alone, with someone else, or in a care home
• Whether you and a partner jointly claim certain income-related benefits

Key Dates That Decide Eligibility

For winter 2025–26, the payment is based on your circumstances during the qualifying week:

• Qualifying week: 15 September to 21 September 2025

If you are eligible, you can usually expect:

• A letter in October or November confirming eligibility and amount
• Payment made mostly in November or December 2025

Who Counts As “Born Before 1944”

This topic is generally referring to pensioners who are in the Winter Fuel Payment age band of:

• Born before 23 September 1944

That cut-off matters because it triggers the higher Winter Fuel Payment rate in the scheme.

How Much More Do Pre-23 September 1944 Pensioners Get

For many households, the standard Winter Fuel Payment rates are:

• £300 if you were born before 23 September 1944
• £200 if you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958

That difference is the “£100 increase” people are talking about.

However, the final amount can change depending on whether you live with another eligible person, whether you jointly claim certain benefits, and whether you live in a care home.

Payment Amounts And Rules At A Glance

Situation During Qualifying Week (15–21 Sep 2025)	Born Before 23 Sep 1944	Born 23 Sep 1944–22 Sep 1958	Notes
Living alone (typical case)	£300	£200	Higher age band is £100 more
Living in a care home (eligible cases)	£150	£100	Lower care home rates apply
Joint claim of certain benefits (one payment for the couple)	£300 (if one or both are older band)	£200 (if both are younger band)	Paid as a single payment in many joint-claim setups
When to expect the payment	Nov/Dec 2025	Nov/Dec 2025	Most paid automatically
If you need to claim	Claim window up to 31 Mar 2026	Claim window up to 31 Mar 2026	Applies if not paid automatically

Income Over £35,000 And The Repayment Rule

A major recent change linked to Winter Fuel Payment administration is that if your total personal income for the tax year is over £35,000, the payment is taken back by HMRC. This repayment is handled through the tax system, such as PAYE tax codes or Self Assessment.

Important points to understand:

• The threshold is based on individual income, not household income
• If your income is £35,000 or less, you keep the payment
• If your income is above £35,000, the payment is recovered

Do You Need To Apply Or Is It Automatic

Most people do not need to apply. Many eligible pensioners get the payment automatically and receive the confirmation letter in October or November.

You may need to make a claim if you:

• Have not received a Winter Fuel Payment before
• Are not receiving the types of benefits that usually trigger automatic payment
• Have deferred your State Pension since the last winter period

For winter 2025–26:

• Claims can be made by post from 15 September 2025
• Claims can be made by phone from 13 October 2025
• Deadline for claims to arrive is 31 March 2026

The Winter Fuel Payment Centre phone number published for claims is 0800 731 0160.

What Happens If Your Payment Does Not Arrive

Because most payments are made automatically in November or December, people who believe they qualify should first check:

• Whether they received the October/November letter
• Whether their circumstances in the qualifying week might affect eligibility or amount
• Whether they need to submit a claim (especially if they are not paid automatically)

Fraud And Scam Warning For Pensioners

Whenever large-scale payments go out, scam messages tend to rise. Be cautious of unsolicited calls, texts, or emails asking for bank details or “claim links.” Official processes generally do not require clicking random links to “unlock” payments.

Conclusion

For state pensioners born before 23 September 1944, the widely reported £100 “increase” is mainly the built-in difference between the higher Winter Fuel Payment age band (£300 in many standard cases) and the next age band (£200). Your exact amount can still vary based on household circumstances, care home status, and whether you have a joint benefit claim. The key dates are the qualifying week (15–21 September 2025) and the usual payment window (November or December 2025). Finally, higher-income pensioners should be aware that if personal income is over £35,000, HMRC will recover the payment through the tax system.

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