Until now, winter fuel payments have been given to all pensioners.
They are worth between £100 and £300, depending on the age of the recipient and whether or not they live alone.
More than 11.3 million pensioners received the payment in winter 2022-23.
However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that from winter 2024, they will only go to pensioners who get pension credit or other means-tested benefits. The policy applies in England and Wales.
About 850,000 households who are eligible to receive pension credit do not claim it, according to figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions last year.
You could be eligible if you are above state pension age and have an income of less that £218.15 a week, or less than £332.95 as a joint weekly income with your partner. Savings are also taken into account.
Disabled people, those caring for someone, and those with housing costs could be eligible despite these factors
The governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland will make a decision on whether to follow the new policy.