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State pensioners are being warned about text messages claiming to be from the DWP which invite them to claim their Winter Fuel Payment.

The £200 to £300 payments, depending on your age, are now being paid out to all state pensioners between November and December, with only those who are earning more than £35,000 per year made to pay back the money.

The cash is automatically given out, though, based on your personal circumstances during the 'qualifying week' in September, and does not need to be directly claimed.

However, a common scam has been circulating again this year which involves attempting to trick state pensioners into answering texts claiming to be from the DWP or HMRC about how to claim their winter fuel payment.

Fake winter fuel payment messages were first circulating in August with the elderly being the prime targets.

The scam messages invited recipients to apply for a new winter fuel payment where they are then instructed to hand over personal information and bank details.

Tech experts are advising Brits to be on the lookout for the scam to make any elderly friends, family members or neighbours aware of the messages.

Juliet Moran, from TelephoneSystems.Cloud, said: "This horrible scam that we saw earlier in the year could be doing the rounds again soon as we approach the colder months.

"Unfortunately when it comes to scams, the elderly are often the ideal target as they're a vulnerable group in society and this scam is no different.

"The message we saw earlier in the year invites recipients to click on a link to apply for their winter fuel payment where they're then asked to handover personal information.

"Those who are eligible for winter fuel payments will receive it automatically and there is no need to apply.

"It's important to spread the word about horrible scams like this which can cause people to lose thousands.

"If you have elderly family members or neighbours, please make them aware that this message could be circulating again later this year and advise them to avoid responding."

The winter fuel payment scheme was redesigned for 2025 after widespread criticism of last year's Pension Credit based changes.

Instead of being given to all state pensioners, the government had announced that the payments would only be given to those in receipt of Pension Credit, limiting it to those with an income of about £11,000 or less and to those actively claiming the DWP benefit.

After widespread criticism, the government changed the rules to once again make the payment universal. The only difference to 2023's rules is that those earning £35,000 or more must return their payment to HMRC as tax.

Those aged 80 or over during the qualifying week in September will receive £300, while those aged under 80 would get £200.

The payments are being made between now and December and it is now too late to opt out of receiving the money, but you do not need to opt in and should ignore any texts asking you to do so.