Scams: how to stay safe
Every winter, fraudsters target the Winter Fuel Payment. They know that millions of older people expect a letter and a payment, and they exploit that expectation with texts, emails and phone calls that look official. The good news is that the real payment never requires you to do the things the scammers ask for — so knowing what the DWP will never do is the best defence.
The golden rule
The DWP will never ask you for your bank details, passwords, PINs or National Insurance number by text message, by email, or through a link. The real payment is automatic for most people, or claimed through the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by post or by phone on 0800 731 0160. If a message asks you to “confirm your bank details to release your Winter Fuel Payment”, “verify your account”, or “apply now” through a link, it is a scam — even if it uses the DWP name, a crown logo, or a plausible-looking web address.
The common scams
Text messages. A typical scam text says your Winter Fuel Payment is ready, or has been held, and asks you to click a link to claim it. The link leads to a fake site designed to steal bank details. Do not click it, and do not reply — replying tells the sender your number is active.
Emails. Scam emails may promise a larger amount than the real maximum — £500, £600 or more — or claim an extra “cost of living bonus” on top of the payment. The real maximum for winter 2026 to 2027 is £300. Any offer above that, or any “extra” payment you have never heard of from GOV.UK, should be treated as false.
Phone calls. A caller may claim to be from the DWP or from “the Winter Fuel team” and ask for your bank details, or ask you to move money to a “safe account”. Genuine DWP staff will never ask you to move money, and will never ask for your full password or PIN. If you are unsure about a caller, hang up and call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre yourself on 0800 731 0160 — never use a number the caller gives you.
Fee-charging “helpers”. Some firms and individuals offer to check or chase your payment for an upfront fee. The Winter Fuel Payment Centre is free to contact, and no fee is needed to receive a payment you are entitled to. Paying such a fee does not speed anything up.
What to do if you get a suspicious message
Do not click links, do not download attachments, and do not give personal or bank details. Forward a suspicious text to 7726, which is the free spam-reporting service run by mobile networks, and report suspicious emails and websites through GOV.UK's reporting guidance. If you think you have already given details to a scammer, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card, and then report it to Action Fraud. Speed matters: the sooner your bank knows, the more it can do.
If it asks for bank details, stop. That single test catches almost every Winter Fuel Payment scam. The real payment goes into the account your State Pension or benefits are already paid into. Nobody legitimate needs you to “confirm” that account by text, email or a web link.
This site gives general information only. It is not legal or financial advice, and it cannot decide your own case. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) decide each concrete case on its own facts. Always check the current GOV.UK guidance before you act, because rates and rules change.
Main source: GOV.UK, “Winter Fuel Payment” guide (winter 2026 to 2027), checked 25 October 2026. gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment.