Government warns pensioners over Winter Fuel Payment scam amid huge spike in cases

Pensioners are being warned to stay alert against ‘despicable’ scam texts about Winter Fuel Payments after a 153 per cent spike in cases reported to the authorities.

Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 will be issued automatically between mid-November and December 2025, so any text or email message saying you need to apply or provide personal information or bank details is a fraud attempt.

Fraudsters are trying to exploit pensioners by posing as government officials processing Winter Fuel Payment applications, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.

It warns scam activity had begun to drop off after a peak in June, but it saw a sudden surge in the space of a week in late September, with reported cases now increasing again ahead of WFPs being issued next month.

The DWP’s official alert to pensioners follows This is Money’s warning last week to watch out for Winter Fuel Payment scams^[1] as the weather gets colder.

More than 70 per cent of people have been targeted with a scam in the past, and one in ten have been approached by scammers impersonating the Government or an energy company about energy bills or Winter Fuel Payments, according to data from Yorkshire Building Society.

Here’s an example of a scam text message. 

Scam texts, seen by This is Money, claim that DWP records indicate the recipient has not submitted an application for the winter heating allowance, or that information provided was incomplete or the application was rejected

Who will get a Winter Fuel Payment this year?

All pensioners will receive the Winter Fuel Payment^[2] this year unless they opted out by mid-September.

But the automatic payments worth up to £300 will be clawed back if your taxable income is £35,000 or more a year, following a Government policy change earlier this year.

An outcry forced a reversal of its unpopular move to axe the benefit for most older people last winter, unless they qualified for the means-tested Pensions Credit benefit.

But an estimated 2million individuals in England and Wales, who are over state pension age and have a taxable income above £35,000, will not be allowed to keep it if they didn’t already opt out.

Some 9million pensioners – more than three quarters of those living in England and Wales – are expected to get the payment this year.

What to do if you get a scam message

You should never reply or engage in any way if you receive one of these messages, but you can forward any suspicious texts to the authorities on 7726.

Doing this is free of charge and helps phone providers to block the numbers involved.

If you think you have been scammed, report it to your bank and the police immediately.

The DWP stresses that it will never ask for bank details via text message.

It says Winter Fuel Payments will be paid automatically into people’s bank accounts between mid-November and December, with eligible pensioners receiving a letter in October or November saying how much they will receive.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden says: ‘If you get a text message about Winter Fuel Payments, it’s a scam. They will be made automatically so you do not need to apply.

‘These despicable attempts by criminals to target people are on the rise. We are raising awareness to make it harder for fraudsters to succeed.

‘If you receive a suspicious message about Winter Fuel Payments, don’t engage – forward it to 7726 and delete it immediately.’

HMRC has previously issued warnings about Winter Fuel Payment scams^[5], saying more than 15,000 reports were made in June and that it had removed more than 4,600 bogus websites related to the payments.

Jonathan Silvester, HMRC’s digital defence lead, says: ‘Scammers target individuals by attempting to take your money or access your personal information. I’m urging you to stay alert to their pressure tactics.

‘Never let yourself be rushed. If someone contacts you relating to Winter Fuel Payments, wanting you to urgently transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard.

‘If a phone call, text or email is suspicious or unexpected, don’t give out private information or reply, and don’t download attachments or click on links. You can report any suspicious HMRC-related activity on Gov.uk, just search ‘report an HMRC scam’.’^[6]

Joanna Elson, chief executive of charity Independent Age, says: ‘Scammers are shamefully exploiting the Winter Fuel Payment to target older people living on low incomes. This entitlement is a vital lifeline that helps protect those facing financial hardship during the colder months.

‘Our helpline^[7] has received calls from older people who have been sent these fraudulent messages. Many of them are already anxious about being able to afford to heat their homes this winter, and these scam texts may wrongly lead them to believe they must take action to receive their payment.

‘The key message is clear: you do not need to do anything to receive your Winter Fuel Payment. If you are eligible, it will be paid automatically.’

DWP scam alert: Any text or email message saying you need to apply or provide personal information or bank details is a fraud attempt

Rachel Vahey, head of public policy at AJ Bell, says: ‘After so many missed out on winter fuel payments last year off the back of Rachel Reeves’s change to the way the payments are means-tested, pensioners will be keen to secure this all-important financial boost to help them keep warm this winter.

‘So it’s disheartening to see a huge 153% increase in reported winter fuel payment scams ahead of the payments starting back up again next month.

‘Scammers are homing in on people’s natural confusion about how the benefit will re-start this winter. Whilst it’s easy to get distracted by all the paperwork and tasks that pile up in daily life, it’s important to be cautious and always double-check any request for your personal details – particularly those claiming to be from government departments.

‘Many pensioners may wonder if there is a requirement to submit new information to the government because of the changes over the past year, but your payments will be made automatically, and you shouldn’t have to respond to text messages, emails or phone calls to make sure they are paid.’