DWP eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment and Christmas bonus - full list

Millions of individuals on certain benefits are set to receive a financial boost from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to help with their heating costs this winter. And while well-publicised recent changes mean fewer will get help, plenty of people will still be eligible.

A government decision will dramatically alter who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, significantly reducing the number of pensioners who can access this aid. Labour's strategy aims to narrow down the recipient base for the Winter Fuel Payment, an award that can reach up to £300, by introducing means-testing.

This contrasts with last year when every pensioner automatically qualified for this one-time transfer, which typically begins to hit accounts in November. Under the current policy, only those on Pension Credit or certain other entitlements will receive the money this season.

Furthermore, a bonus payment just for Christmas will be made available to a wide array of benefit claimants.

Who is eligible for Winter Fuel Payment

You can qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this year if you were born before September 23 1958 and live in England, Scotland or Wales while receiving one of the specified benefits. In certain circumstances, you may be eligible even if you live abroad:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Working Tax or Child Tax Credits

When you won't be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment

You won't be eligible if:

• Are not in receipt of one of the means-tested benefits listed above
• Have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
• Were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week of September 16 to 22, 2024

Who is eligible for the £10 Christmas Bonus?

To qualify for the Christmas Bonus, individuals must be present or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the expected qualifying week of December 2 to 8, 2024. Further details on the exact qualifying week will be confirmed later this year.

Claimants must be receiving at least one of the following benefits during the qualifying week:

• Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer Support Payment (Scotland only)
• Child Disability Payment (Scotland only)
• Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
• Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
• Mobility Supplement
• Pension Credit - the guarantee element
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
• Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
• Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
• War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
• War Widow’s Pension
• Widowed Mother’s Allowance
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• Widow’s Pension

It should be noted that not everyone above the State Pension age is automatically entitled to the bonus. The DWP's official guidance on GOV.UK clarifies: "If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not get a Christmas Bonus."

There's no need to apply for the Christmas Bonus - it should be automatically credited to you.