A BBC Morning Live personal finance guru warned over a crucial cut-off for anyone hoping to get the payment this year
A BBC expert has warned people have just 10 days to ‘sort out their finances’ before the Winter Fuel Payment deadline and drew attention to the ‘£673 rule’.
Speaking on BBC Morning Live, finance expert Laura Pomfret revealed that some pensioners may need to act quickly regarding the payment. Chancellor Rachel Reeves brought back the Winter Fuel Payment for approximately 9 million state pensioners who were left out in 2024.
But not everyone will receive it – those earning above £35,000 must repay it – and there’s a crucial deadline approaching in 10 days, Ms Pomfret warned.
The winter fuel payment is this one-off tax rebate from the government to assist older people with heating costs for their homes, particularly during these chillier months.
It’s valued at between £100 and £300 based on age and household situations. Ms Pomfret explained: “People over 80 get a higher amount, couples both entitled to a payment that live together, get a different amount and most people won’t need to do anything. This is an automatic payment. you received in about November, December, just when you need it, paid directly into your bank account or via the usual method where you collect your benefits or your pension.
“This year to be eligible, you have to have been born before the 23rd of September 1959, which broadly anyone aged 66 and above.”
She also outlined some modifications to the 2025 payment which could require some individuals to take immediate action. Previously, the payment was distributed to everyone above the state pension age, but it now involves means testing, meaning anyone earning more than £35,000 in taxable income cannot receive it.
Ms Pomfret clarified that the £35,000 threshold encompasses income from state or private pensions, alongside earnings from employment or self-employment, plus any savings interest outside of an ISA.
She highlighted that the coming week will be crucial in determining eligibility: “Eligibility is assessed during what we call the qualifying week, which is coming up. It’s the 15th to the 21st of September. And essentially the government looks at what you earn during that week, and if you earn over £673 then you won’t be eligible, but if you earn less than that, well, if you get £673 or less, you will be entitled to it, and that’s just over a week away, so one frustration with some people is whatever they earn, they’re going to have to get it and have to give it back.”
For those who must return the funds, Ms Pomfret outlined the process: “You won’t receive a bill for it. If you have to pay it back, it’ll come back through your tax code.”
When a viewer enquired about opting out if they didn’t want the winter fuel payment, Ms Pomfret confirmed that people could simply choose to opt out instead of going through the repayment process. She explained: “If you want to do this, you need to formally opt out and so you need to go within 10 days before this 15th of September deadline to gov.uk and you search winter fuel payment, opt out, and you fill in a really short form, and this is how you can opt out and not get given it, but you have to do it before midnight on the 15th of September.
“Now if you don’t want to do it online and you prefer to ring someone, you can ring the winter fuel payment centre to tell them directly, you have to do it by 6pm because they shut, they’re not going to be on the phones until midnight, I’m afraid. But that’s 0800 731 0160.”
Head to the government website to withdraw from receiving the winter fuel payment.
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