The Winter Fuel Payment will provide eligible older people in England and Wales with between £100 and £300 toward heating costs during the 2026/27 winter. For many households, the payment can help with higher energy bills as temperatures fall.
The Department for Work and Pensions has set out the eligibility rules, payment amounts and circumstances that can affect how much an individual receives. Some people will receive the payment automatically, while others may need to take action depending on their circumstances.
Eligibility
For winter 2026/27, you could qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before June 27, 1960.
Eligible people are expected to receive a letter in October or November explaining how much they will receive. The payment can range from £100 to £300, depending on age, household circumstances and certain benefits.
The Winter Fuel Payment is intended to help eligible older people with heating expenses during the winter. It is separate from regular State Pension payments and other forms of financial support.
Exclusions
Meeting the age requirement does not automatically mean everyone will receive the payment.
You generally will not qualify if you normally live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Other exclusions can apply depending on your circumstances during the qualifying period.
For example, you may not qualify if you were receiving free treatment in hospital for the entire week from September 21 to September 27, 2026, as well as the preceding year under the applicable rules.
People who were imprisoned for the complete qualifying week can also be excluded. In addition, people who require permission to enter the UK may not qualify if their immigration conditions state that they cannot access public funds.
These rules mean that eligibility can depend on more than your age and address.
Payments
The amount you receive depends partly on your date of birth and whether another eligible person lives in your household.
If you live alone, or nobody else in your household qualifies, the payment is generally:
| Circumstance | Payment |
|---|---|
| Born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960 | £200 |
| Born before September 28, 1946 | £300 |
Household arrangements can make the calculation more complicated.
If another person who qualifies for the Winter Fuel Payment lives with you, the amount can depend on whether either of you receives certain means-tested benefits.
These include Pension Credit, Universal Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
Households
For people who do not receive one of the qualifying benefits, the household payment can vary according to the ages of the people living together.
If both people were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, the payment is £100 per person or household allocation as applicable.
If one person was born before September 28, 1946 and the other was born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, the applicable payment can be £200 when the older person is the qualifying recipient.
Where both people were born before September 28, 1946, the payment can be £150.
The rules are designed to account for household circumstances rather than simply paying the same amount to every eligible pensioner.
Benefits
Receiving certain means-tested benefits can change the amount paid.
If you and your partner make a joint claim for a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA, one Winter Fuel Payment may be made into the same bank account used for the benefit.
The payment can be:
- £200 if both partners were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960
- £300 if one or both partners were born before September 28, 1946
If you receive one of the qualifying benefits on your own, the payment can be £200 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £300 if you were born before September 28, 1946.
Carehomes
People living in care homes can also qualify if they meet the relevant conditions.
For eligible care home residents, the payment is £100 for those born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960.
Those born before September 28, 1946 can receive £150.
Care home residents can face different eligibility conditions, so the standard household payment rules do not necessarily apply in the same way.
Opting
Most eligible people do not need to make a claim because the payment is generally made automatically.
However, some pensioners may decide they do not want to receive it. This is particularly relevant because HMRC can recover payments from people whose income means they are liable to repay the money.
The DWP has been contacting pensioners about the option to decline the payment. According to the information provided, HMRC requested repayments from around 1.3 million people following the previous payment arrangements.
If you receive a payment that you expect to have to repay, opting out can avoid receiving money that will later need to be recovered.
Eligible people can opt out through the Manage Your State Pension service if they receive State Pension, by completing the relevant online opt-out form, or by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment helpline.
For the 2026 payment, the stated deadline for opting out is 11:59pm on September 20, 2026. Those using the telephone helpline need to contact it before 6pm on that date.
Recovery
If HMRC determines that you need to repay your Winter Fuel Payment, the money can be recovered through the tax system.
This can happen by adjusting your tax code or by including the amount on your Self Assessment tax return.
That means receiving the payment does not necessarily mean you will keep the full amount. Higher-income pensioners should therefore pay attention to communications from HMRC and the DWP.
The Winter Fuel Payment remains an important source of support for eligible older households facing winter heating costs. However, the amount varies considerably depending on age, household composition, benefits and living arrangements. Checking the eligibility rules and any letters from the DWP can help ensure that you know whether you qualify, how much you should receive and whether any action is required.
FAQs
Who can get the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026?
People born on or before June 27, 1960 may qualify.
How much is the Winter Fuel Payment?
Eligible people can receive between £100 and £300.
When will payment letters arrive?
Eligible recipients should receive letters in October or November.
Can I opt out of the payment?
Yes. You can opt out through the approved DWP services.
Can HMRC recover the payment?
Yes. HMRC can recover payments through tax adjustments or Self Assessment.
