Winter Fuel Payment – what to do if there's a change in your situation :Cross Stitch – Pensions and retirement planning

If you’re getting Winter Fuel Payment and your situation changes you’ll need to take action. You will either need to contact the right office or you may need to reapply. Find out which changes to your situation you need to report and what to do next.

If your circumstances change this may affect whether you qualify for Winter Fuel Payment or the amount you can get.

You will need to report changes such as:

• you or someone else eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment moves in or out of your house
• you or someone else eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment moves into or goes to live in a care home
• someone who was eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment in the household dies
• you change your bank account details
• you move abroad

If you live or are moving abroad – see ‘Winter Fuel Payment Abroad’ below.

Who you need to contact depends on which of the following describes your situation.

You have received a Winter Fuel Payment before

If you’re already receiving a Winter Fuel Payment then you need to contact the office that usually makes your payments.

You can find your contact details on any of your Winter Fuel Payment correspondence.

If you have a general query you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline.

See ‘If you used to receive a benefit or State Pension in the past’ below to find out what to do next.

If you received Winter Fuel Payment and one of following in the past – but you don’t any longer, you must make a claim:

• State Pension
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Bereavement Benefit
• Carer’s Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Graduated Retirement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Injuries Benefits
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• War Pension
• Widow’s Benefit