Website of the UK government

If you live in the UK

If you live in the UK and claim Winter Fuel Payment, it's important you call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline if:

• you move home
• you change your bank account details
• you stop getting benefits (not including Housing Benefit, Council Tax benefit and Child Benefit)
• someone moves in, or out of your address
• there is any other change of circumstances that may affect your payment

This will ensure you continue to get the right amount of payments.

• Winter Fuel Payments Helpline

Claiming Winter Fuel Payment and moving abroad

If you live abroad, you may be able to continue receiving Winter Fuel Payments if both the following apply:

• you qualified for a Winter Fuel Payment when you lived in the UK
• you then moved to another European Economic Area (EEA) country or to Switzerland

If you live in another EEA country or Switzerland, you cannot receive a Winter Fuel Payment if any of the following apply:

• you are under 60
• you did not qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment before leaving the UK
• you permanently left the UK before 5 January 1998
• you normally live outside the EEA or Switzerland
• you normally live in the UK (but you can still receive payments as a UK resident)
• you are in custody under sentence during the qualifying week (21 to 27 September 2009)

Find out more about the following subjects:

• Claiming benefits in Europe

If you live in the EEA or Switzerland and you need to contact someone about Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Team at the International Pension Centre is responsible for making Winter Fuel Payments to people who live outside the UK.

Address all correspondence to the Winter Fuel Team.

• International Pension Centre

Changes from winter 2010-11

The qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payments will rise gradually from age 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020. This is to keep in line with changes to the State Pension age for women.

If you first qualify for Winter Fuel Payment in 2010–11 or later this will apply to you.

If you have already received the Winter Fuel Payment in a previous year you will not be affected. This will not affect 2009-10 payments.

More useful links

• Winter Fuel Payment

• Winter Fuel Payment - getting paid