By James Rodger

Copyright birminghammail

State pensioners could be eligible for three freebie benefits worth £460 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). O lder people across the UK are set to receive a financial boost worth up to £460 before Christmas . The DWP has three separate payments to help people across the country as the weather turns. It comes as millions of pensioners risk losing out on up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payments unless they act now, says a finance expert. The DWP has set the qualifying week for this year’s payments as September 16-22 2025 – this week. Most people who qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment will get it automatically if they already receive the State Pension or certain benefits like Pension Credit, Universal Credit , or Attendance Allowance. READ MORE Major update over calls for new 11pm to 9.30am bus travel rule in England Anyone earning over £35,000 a year will have the money clawed back through the tax system unless they opted out before 15 September. The change means 7.4 million more pensioners will receive the payment this year, while two million will still miss out. The Winter Fuel Allowance provides £200 for each household where someone receives the state pension. Those aged 80 or above will receive £300 to help cover heating costs. People with higher incomes above £35,000 will still receive it initially, but HMRC will later reclaim the money through PAYE or self-assessment tax returns. If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing ‘hard to heat’ eligibility criteria. The Warm Home Discount offers a one-off £150 credit applied directly to electricity accounts. For households using prepayment meters or Pay-As-You-Go systems, a £150 voucher is provided instead to top up meters. Money Saving Expert explained: “Later this year, the Government plans to consult on the future of the scheme beyond 2026. The Government has previously said it is “considering more substantial changes to the Warm Home Discount scheme to improve the design of the scheme beyond the current regulations which expire in 2026.” The Christmas Bonus, introduced in the 1970s, is a tax-free £10 payment arriving in early December. It is available to everyone receiving the state pension and various other benefits.