Most pensioners in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will automatically receive a Winter Fuel Payment this year to help cover heating bills, with payments ranging from £100 to £300 depending on age and living situation.
People born on or before June 27, 1960 could get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills for the 2026 to 2027 winter. The payment is administered by the UK government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Who Is Eligible
To qualify, a person must have been born on or before June 27, 1960 and usually live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Scotland operates a separate scheme called the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment with the same eligibility criteria.
People will not be eligible if they were in hospital receiving free treatment for the entire week of September 21 to 27, 2026, or in prison for that same period.
Care home residents can generally receive the payment, but those who get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and who lived in a care home full time from June 29, 2026 or earlier will not be eligible.
How Much You’ll Get
The amount depends on age and household circumstances during what the government calls the qualifying week, September 21 to 27, 2026.
People who live alone, or whose housemates are not eligible, will receive £200 if born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £300 if born before September 28, 1946.
For those who share a home with another eligible person, the amounts are lower if neither person receives Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related ESA. In that case, each person born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960 would receive £100, while someone born before September 28, 1946 living with a younger eligible partner would receive £200.
Care home residents who are eligible will receive either £100 or £150, again depending on their date of birth.
The Income Clawback
A new feature for 2026 is a repayment rule for higher earners. If a recipient’s total annual income is over £35,000, HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs, the UK’s tax authority) will recover the Winter Fuel Payment. A partner’s income does not count toward that total.
HMRC will recover the amount by changing the person’s tax code in the 2027 to 2028 tax year, or by adding it to their 2026 to 2027 Self Assessment tax return if they file one. The government has an online tool that allows people to check whether their income exceeds the threshold.
When Payments Arrive and How to Claim
Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2026. Those who are eligible will receive a letter in October or November stating how much they will get.
Most people do not need to do anything. The payment is made automatically to those who qualify. Anyone who does not receive a letter but believes they are eligible should check the government’s website to see whether they need to submit a claim.
Opting Out
People who wish to decline the payment can opt out by completing a government opt-out form before 11:59pm on September 20, 2026, or by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before 6pm on September 18, 2026.
Anyone who opts out but later changes their mind can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before March 31, 2027 to opt back in.
