**DWP Sets Out Detailed Winter Fuel Payment Rules for Couples in Fresh Clarification**
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a comprehensive update on how the Winter Fuel Payment will be distributed to couples this coming winter, following a notable shift in government policy. The move comes after widespread concern over last year’s means-tested approach, and aims to support millions of pensioners across England and Wales as heating costs continue to be a pressing issue for older households.
On 11 June, the government confirmed a reversal of last year’s tighter payment criteria, stating that an estimated nine million pensioners will now receive the Winter Fuel Payment this winter. The payment, designed to help with increased heating bills during colder months, will be allocated to those aged above the state pension age with a total income of £35,000 or less per year. This measure comes after significant backlash to last winter’s reduced eligibility, which had narrowed the qualifying income to just £11,600 and had limited the payments only to individuals on specific benefits.
Under the new scheme, eligible pensioners will automatically receive either £200 or £300, depending on their age and circumstances, regardless of whether they previously qualified under last year’s stricter system. The intention, according to DWP sources, is to provide broader support amidst the rising cost of living and ongoing challenges in the energy market.
Householding arrangements have a notable impact on how the payments are distributed. Rather than making payments per individual, the DWP will issue a single payment per household. In cases where two pensioners reside together, the maximum combined amount is capped at £300. For elderly couples, this equates to £150 each if both are over the age of 80. However, both members of a couple do not need to have identical incomes; the rules allow for nuanced assessment.
Importantly, an individual’s eligibility will be determined by their own income rather than their partner’s. This means that if one partner earns above the £35,000 threshold, the portion of the payment linked to their claim will be reclaimed via the usual tax routes—either PAYE or self-assessment. Meanwhile, a partner earning below the income cap will retain their full share.
Financial expert Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, welcomed the reform, calling it “a good system compared to what we thought was going to happen.” Lewis and other campaigners had previously expressed concern that eligibility might be calculated on the basis of the highest-earning household member, which would have excluded many low-income pensioners who happened to live with a higher earner.
There is a notable exception for couples in receipt of Pension Credit. For these households, the DWP clarified that the payment is not split between individuals. Instead, the couple will receive the entire allocation—£200 or, where one individual is 80 or over, £300—in a single lump sum. There are no clawbacks in these cases, as couples on Pension Credit are considered to fall automatically beneath the income cut-off.
Last year’s changes to the Winter Fuel Payment system, which introduced means testing for the first time, had caused uncertainty and concern among pensioners with fluctuating incomes. This year’s clarification is being broadly welcomed by advocacy groups and charities supporting older people, who stress the need for clear and timely information as households make essential preparations ahead of winter.
For those set to receive the Winter Fuel Payment, the DWP encourages people to check their eligibility and understand the tax implications if their income exceeds the threshold. Payments are scheduled to be made automatically, with no additional application required for most pensioners.
As the cost of energy remains a major concern heading into winter, the confirmed changes to the Winter Fuel Payment signal a renewed attempt by the government to ease financial pressures for older citizens, particularly those in shared living arrangements or on modest incomes. Further details, including exact payment dates, are expected to be released by the DWP in the coming weeks.