Winter Fuel Payment (Northern Ireland)
An automatic winter payment for people of State Pension age. From winter 2025/26 it is paid to everyone of pension age, but is recovered through tax from anyone whose individual income is over £35,000.
- Worth
- £200 per household — £300 if someone is aged 80 or over
- Run by
- Department for Communities
- Status
- Open
Who qualifies
- You have reached State Pension age by the qualifying week in September
- Your individual income is £35,000 or less — above that it is paid but clawed back via a tax charge
- You live in Northern Ireland
What it covers
A cash payment, usually made automatically in November or December.
How to apply
Most people do not need to apply — it is paid automatically if you get the State Pension or another qualifying benefit. If you have never received it and think you qualify, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
This replaced the 2024/25 arrangement where only Pension Credit recipients qualified. The £35,000 test applies to each person individually, not the household.
Questions people ask
Do I need to claim it?
Usually not. It is paid automatically to people receiving the State Pension. Only claim if you have never had it and are not on any qualifying benefit.
What if my income is over £35,000?
You will still receive it, but HMRC recovers the full amount through the tax system. You can opt out of receiving it instead.
Source
Official page: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/winter-fuel-payment
Last checked automatically on 7 September 2026 — page reachable ✓.
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