<P> The Winter Fuel Payment is a state benefit paid once per year in the United Kingdom to qualifying individuals . It is intended to cover the additional costs of heating over the winter months . It was introduced by the Labour government in 1997 and was first announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown in his Pre-Budget Statement of that year . </P> <P> To be eligible for the benefit in a particular year, a person must be over age 60 (born before a specific qualifying date--e.g. 5 January 1952 for payments for the winter 2013 - 2014), and in a specified week (22 - 29 September 2013, for 2013 - 2014) must be resident in the United Kingdom and not in any of the excluded groups (prisoners, people receiving long - term free hospital care, those with certain immigration issues, and those living in care homes and receiving income - related benefits such as pension credit). </P>

When was the winter fuel payment first introduced