You get it with your state pension and you do not have to claim it. If a person is not old enough to claim their state pension then they are not eligible for the winter fuel payment
My link has a claim line phone number ,call that and they will tell you if qualify, and if not when will qualify.
He could get it at 62 if he is on certain benefits.
Official websites state you qualify for the 2015/16 payment if born on/before 05 Jan 1953 so your OH would have to be born on/before 05 Jan 1954 to qualify for the 2016/17 payment (assuming the qualifying date moves forward 1 year) so he'll have to wait until 2017/18.
Everyone gets to claim winter fuel allowance when they reach state pension age of a female with cut off date changing annually. If you are in receipt of state pension before it is due they will pay automatically. If you defer your state pension or are not yet in receipt of it, you will need to claim it.
You will have to claim it the year you OH qualifies (2017) unless you are older and already qualify or you can wait until you both qualify for state pension when it's paid automatically.