Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022 (experimental)
Published 2 November 2022
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/winter-fuel-payment-statistics-for-winter-2020-to-2021-and-winter-2021-to-2022/winter-fuel-payment-statistics-for-winter-2020-to-2021-and-winter-2021-to-2022-experimental
This bulletin contains commentary on the annual Winter Fuel Payment statistics at recipient level. The release includes statistics for residents of Great Britain and eligible residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries together with Switzerland. It also contains statistics on expenditure for payments made to those living outside Great Britain.
Notices
This release covers recipient level statistics for both winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022 due to the September 2021 release being delayed. This was due to a move to a new administrative payment system that required redevelopment of the statistical production process.
Winter Fuel Payment recipient statistics published up to and including winter 2019 to 2020 were estimates based on the number of people entitled to Winter Fuel Payment. From winter 2020 to 2021 onwards, with the introduction of the Seasonal Payment System, the statistics are based on actual payments made. Due to this difference in methodology, data prior to winter 2020 to 2021 is not included in this publication, as the data are not directly comparable. Figures for prior years can be found in the relevant publication release.
Previous published statistics included estimates of the number of households who received a Winter Fuel Payment, but this release does not include equivalent statistics as these are still under redevelopment following the change of administration system.
These statistics have changed from national to experimental status as they are still under testing and development so there is potentially a wider degree of uncertainty. Read the background, quality and methodology report for more information.
1. Main stories
The main stories for winter 2020 to 2021 are:
- the number of Winter Fuel Payments in winter 2020 to 2021 was 11.1 million
- of these, 99% lived in Great Britain, with around 42,000 recipients living in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
The main stories for winter 2021 to 2022 are:
- the number of Winter Fuel Payments in winter 2021 to 2022 was 11.3 million, a rise of around 113,000 since winter 2020 to 2021
- of these, 99% lived in Great Britain, with around 36,000 recipients living in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
See the data tables accompanying this release for supporting data and additional breakdowns, such as age band and gender.
2. What you need to know
Winter Fuel Payments were introduced in 1997 to help pension aged people pay their heating bills. It is an annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300, to those eligible, to help meet the costs of heating their homes in winter.
Supplementary tables are published with breakdowns by geography, age band, and gender for further analysis.
Further guidance on these statistics is provided in the about these statistics section of this bulletin and the background, quality and methodology report.
Methodology changes (from winter 2020 to 2021)
This release provides information for individual recipients of Winter Fuel Payments over two years (winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022). The introduction of a new Seasonal Payment System to administer Winter Fuel Payments in winter 2020 to 2021 led to a change in methodology for compiling the statistics for winter 2020 to 2021 onwards. This process delayed the publications covering winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022.
Users should be cautious if they make any comparisons between the statistics published using different methodologies. Statistics up to and including winter 2019 to 2020 were based on the number of people entitled to Winter Fuel Payment. From winter 2020 to 2021 onwards, the statistics are based on actual payments made according to the Seasonal Payment System.
Household level data is unavailable for winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022 as these statistics are currently being redeveloped to account for the change in data source.
Experimental Statistics
Winter Fuel Payment Statistics are official statistics that are experimental due to the change in data source. Only recipient level statistics are reported as household level statistics are currently still under development.
3. All Winter Fuel Payment recipients
Recipients are the number of eligible people recorded on the Seasonal Payment System who received a Winter Fuel Payment.
See the supplementary tables accompanying this release for supporting data and additional breakdowns for winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022. Statistics under the previous methodology that cover the winter periods before winter 2020 to 2021 can be found in the previous Winter Fuel Payment publications.
More people received a Winter Fuel Payment in winter 2021 to 2022 compared to winter 2020 to 2021.
Total number of recipients of a Winter Fuel Payment, winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022
| Period | Total number of recipients (millions) |
|---|---|
| Winter 2020 to 2021 | 11.1 |
| Winter 2021 to 2022 | 11.3 |
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
In winter 2020 to 2021, around 11.1 million people received a Winter Fuel Payment. In winter 2021 to 2022, around 11.3 million people received a Winter Fuel Payment, an increase of around 113,000 payments, or 1.0%, from the previous year. The number of people receiving State Pension has seen a similar increase over this time period.
Not all Winter Fuel Payment recipients live in Great Britain. More information about payments made to people living in Great Britain is available in Section 4. A breakdown of findings for EEA and Switzerland can be found in Section 5.
4. Winter Fuel Payments made to those living in Great Britain
Most Winter Fuel Payments are made to people living in Great Britain (99% for winter 2021 to 2022).
The number of recipients of Winter Fuel Payment aged 70 and over in Great Britain is rising.
Recipients of a Winter Fuel Payment in Great Britain by age group, winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022
| Age Band | Payments made winter 2020 to 2021 (millions) | Payments made winter 2021 to 2022 (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 69 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 70 to 74 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| 75 to 79 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| 80 and over | 3.1 | 3.2 |
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
The number of recipients of Winter Fuel Payment in Great Britain aged 75 and above is increasing. In winter 2020 to 2021, around 5.4 million recipients in Great Britain were aged 75 and above. This increased to around 5.6 million in winter 2021 to 2022, a change of 3%.
The number of recipients under 75 has decreased slightly. There were just over 5.7 million recipients in Great Britain under 75 in winter 2020 to 2021. In winter 2021 to 2022, this number dropped by 43,000 to around 5.6 million. This is a decrease of 0.8%.
Due to changes in the State Pension age, the minimum age of recipients was 65 in winter 2020 to 2021 and 66 in winter 2021 to 2022. There were a small number of 65-year-olds (13,000) in receipt of a payment for winter 2020 to 2021, and none for winter 2021 to 2022. Of all recipients aged 69 or under, 0.5% were aged 65 in 2020 to 2021 so there is very little impact on comparisons between years for that age group. More information on the change in State Pension age can be found in the State Pension age timetable.
5. Winter Fuel Payments made to those living in EEA or Switzerland
From winter 2002 to 2003, Winter Fuel Payments were extended, under certain circumstances, to people who live outside of the UK but within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. For winter 2015 to 2016 onwards certain countries with an average winter temperature higher than the warmest winter region of the UK (South West England) were excluded. Further details and a timeline of policy changes impacting Winter Fuel Payments for people living outside the UK is available in the background, quality, and methodology report.
Winter 2021 to 2022 had 14% fewer Winter Fuel Payments to EEA and Switzerland residents compared to winter 2020 to 2021.
Recipients of Winter Fuel Payments: EEA and Switzerland, winter 2020 to 2021 and winter 2021 to 2022
| Period | Total number of recipients in EEA and Switzerland (thousands) |
|---|---|
| Winter 2020 to 2021 | 41.6 |
| Winter 2021 to 2022 | 35.8 |
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
In winter 2020 to 2021, around 41,600 Winter Fuel Payments were made to recipients in the eligible EEA countries and Switzerland. Around 35,800 payments were made in winter 2021 to 2022, which is decrease of 5,800 payments, or 14.0%, compared to winter 2020 to 2021. Over winter 2021 to 2022 expenditure decreased by £1.2 million, or 13.2%, to just over £8 million.
For expenditure figures for Great Britain please refer to the benefit expenditure and caseload tables.
Most recipients of Winter Fuel Payment in the EEA live in Ireland (78% in winter 2021 to 2022).
Recipients of Winter Fuel Payments in EEA and Switzerland by country for winter 2021 to 2022
| Country | Winter Fuel Payments made | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 27,851 | 78% |
| Germany | 2,160 | 6% |
| Italy | 1,593 | 4% |
| Bulgaria | 662 | 2% |
| Netherlands | 583 | 2% |
| Switzerland | 495 | 1% |
| Poland | 417 | 1% |
| Remainder of EEA | 2,026 | 6% |
Source: Winter Fuel Payment statistics
Most payments made outside of Great Britain are to those living in Ireland with 79.1% of payments in winter 2020 to 2021 and 77.8% of payments in winter 2021 to 2022. Germany and Italy are the second and third highest with 6.0% and 4.5% of payments respectively in winter 2021 to 2022. A full breakdown by country, of payments and expenditure, is available in the supplementary tables accompanying this release.
6. Definitions
Recipient
This refers to a recipient of a Winter Fuel Payment. This is irrespective of whether they received their payment automatically or if they had to make a claim.
Qualifying week
To qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment, an individual must meet certain circumstances during a given week each year. For winter 2020 to 2021, the qualifying week was 21 to 27 September 2020. For winter 2021 to 2022, the qualifying week was 20 to 26 September 2021. More information about eligibility is available in the background, quality and methodology report.
State Pension
A regular payment most people can claim from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when they reach the State Pension age, dependent on date of birth and the number of ‘qualifying’ years of National Insurance contributions made.
Winter Fuel Payment
An annual tax-free payment made to those eligible to help towards their heating costs. It is a lump sum payment and in most cases is paid automatically with some exceptions.
7. About these statistics
Winter Fuel Payment was introduced in 1997 to help pension aged people pay their heating bills. It is an annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300, to those eligible, to help meet the costs of heating their homes in winter.
The payment is generally made between November and December but can extend until the end of March. Eligibility is based on the individual’s circumstances during the qualifying week, which is the week beginning the third Monday of September before the winter covered by the payment. The qualifying age matches the State Pension age and is now 66.
Automatic entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment is based on the individual being in receipt of State Pension or another social security benefit (not including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit). Whilst Winter Fuel Payments are not dependent on receipt of state support, people in receipt of State Pension make up a large proportion of Winter Fuel Payment recipients.
Detailed eligibility criteria are listed in the background, quality and methodology report.
7.1. European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
From winter 2002 to 2003, Winter Fuel Payments were extended, under certain circumstances to people who live outside of the UK but within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
The European Economic Area (EEA) is made up of all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, which are not members of the EU. Changes to EEA that may affect Winter Fuel Payments are outlined below:
- in 1997 (start of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme): Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom
- on 1 May 2004, the following countries joined: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia
- on 1 January 2007, the following countries joined: Bulgaria, Romania
- on 1 July 2013, the following country joined: Croatia
- Switzerland is not a member of the EEA, but an agreement from 1 June 2002 means that the European Community rules on social security apply from that date. As a result, the Winter Fuel Payment may be paid in Switzerland in some circumstances
- from winter 2015 a change to the entitlement conditions meant that the Winter Fuel Payment was no longer payable to people living in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal, or Spain
Further details on how these changes impact the Winter Fuel Payment statistics can be found in the background, quality and methodology report.
8. Related statistics
Cold Weather Payments – Estimated number of Cold Weather Payments and total amounts paid.
Contact: socialfundstrategy.singlepointofcontact@dwp.gov.uk
A Winter Fuel Payment is made annually to eligible pensioners between November and December and is a fixed amount that is not weather dependent. However, in periods of extreme cold weather between November and March, the Cold Weather Payment scheme provides additional support to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit, and other individuals vulnerable to cold weather, by providing an extra £25 payment for every seven-day period of below zero degrees Celsius temperatures in their area.
These statistics are based on the estimated number of benefit units linked to each weather station that is eligible for a Cold Weather Payment. A benefit unit is an adult and their partner (if applicable) and any dependent children living with them.
Northern Ireland Social Fund Annual Report – part of Northern Ireland Department for Communities Statistics.
Contact: sspld@communities-ni.gov.uk
The annual Winter Fuel Payment statistics for Northern Ireland are published in this report.
Benefit Expenditure and Caseload – part of DWP welfare statistics.
Contact: expenditure.tables@dwp.gov.uk
The total amount spent on Winter Fuel Payments for people living outside Great Britain is reported within these statistics. However, expenditure for residents of Great Britain is covered by a separate report under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). It is part of the OBR’s independent reporting of benefit expenditure under the Budget Responsibility & National Audit Act 2011.
State Pension – part of our DWP benefit statistics.
Contact: alan.gibson@dwp.gov.uk
Whilst Winter Fuel Payments are not dependent on receipt of state support, people in receipt of State Pension make up a large proportion of Winter Fuel Payment recipients.
Fuel Poverty – part of Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy statistics.
Contact: fuelpoverty@beis.gov.uk
Fuel poverty in England is measured by the Low-Income High Costs definition, which considers a household to be in fuel poverty if:
- they have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level)
- were they to spend that amount they would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line
The key drivers behind fuel poverty are:
- the energy efficiency of the property (and therefore, the energy required to heat and power the home)
- the cost of energy
- household income
9. Contacts
Lead Statistician: Jenny Kay
Produced by: Phoebe Hallett, Elliott Larkinson, Joseph Bull, Jennifer Laws and Clint Woo
Email: wfp.statistics@dwp.gov.uk
DWP would like to hear your views on our statistical publications. If you use any of our statistics publications, we would be interested in hearing what you use them for and how well they meet your requirements. Please email DWP stats-consultation@dwp.gov.uk
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ISBN: 978-1-78659-465-5