More than 10 million people could receive a Winter Fuel Payment for the 2026-27 winter period, with eligible pensioners potentially receiving between £100 and £300 toward their energy costs.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses a specific “qualifying week” to determine eligibility. For the 2026-27 payment, that week runs from September 21 to September 27, 2026.
Your age, where you live, household circumstances and certain benefits can all affect whether you qualify and how much you receive.
The payment is normally made automatically, so most eligible people do not need to submit a claim. However, people with higher incomes may have to repay some or all of the payment through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Qualifying
The key date for the 2026-27 Winter Fuel Payment is September 27, 2026.
You generally need to have reached State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week. For this winter, that means you must have been born on or before June 27, 1960.
You must also have been living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week.
The DWP will use your circumstances during the qualifying week when determining eligibility.
The official GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment guidance provides the government’s current eligibility rules and payment information.
Eligibility
If you meet the conditions, you should normally receive the payment automatically.
The DWP says eligible people will receive a letter during October or November explaining whether they qualify and how much they will receive.
The payment for the 2026-27 winter can range from £100 to £300.
The amount is not the same for everyone because it depends partly on your date of birth and who you live with.
Income
A higher income does not necessarily prevent you from receiving the payment.
Under the current rules, people with an income above £35,000 can receive the Winter Fuel Payment but may have to repay it.
HMRC can recover the amount through the tax system. This can include adjusting your tax code or collecting the amount through a Self Assessment tax return.
This means the payment may initially arrive automatically even if your income ultimately means you have to repay it.
Exclusions
There are circumstances in which someone who meets the age requirement may not receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
You generally will not qualify if you were outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week.
Other exclusions can apply to people who were in hospital receiving free treatment for the entire qualifying week and the preceding year, as well as certain people who were in prison throughout the qualifying week.
People subject to immigration control may also be unable to receive the payment where their immigration conditions prevent them from accessing public funds.
There are also specific rules for people living in care homes while receiving certain means-tested benefits.
Payment
The amount you receive depends on your birth date and household circumstances.
For someone living alone, or living with people who are not eligible for the payment, the amount is generally:
| Birth date | Winter Fuel Payment |
|---|---|
| September 28, 1946 to June 27, 1960 | £200 |
| On or before September 27, 1946 | £300 |
The household rules become more complicated when two eligible people live together.
For example, if neither person receives certain qualifying benefits, the payment can range from £100 to £200 depending on both people’s dates of birth.
If you and your partner jointly receive certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment can instead be made into the same bank account used for your benefits.
Couples
Couples living together can receive different amounts depending on their ages and whether they jointly claim certain benefits.
If neither person receives the specified benefits, the payment can be:
- £100 if both were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960
- £100 if one was born between those dates and the other was born before September 28, 1946
- £200 if one was born before September 28, 1946 and the other was born between the two dates
- £150 if both were born before September 28, 1946
Where a couple jointly receives one of the relevant benefits, the payment can instead be £200 or £300, depending on their dates of birth.
These household rules are important because the amount cannot be determined from age alone.
Benefits
Certain benefits can affect how the Winter Fuel Payment is calculated when people live together.
These include Pension Credit, Universal Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
If you receive one of these benefits, the DWP may make the Winter Fuel Payment using a different household calculation.
The GOV.UK guidance sets out the different payment amounts and circumstances.
If you receive a qualifying benefit jointly with your partner, the Winter Fuel Payment may be paid into the same account used for your benefit payments.
Care Homes
People living in care homes can still qualify in some circumstances.
If you are eligible and live in a care home, the payment is generally:
- £100 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960
- £150 if you were born on or before September 27, 1946
However, additional conditions apply to people living in care homes, particularly where they receive certain benefits.
Someone who has been living in a care home for the relevant period while receiving specified means-tested benefits may be excluded.
Payment Dates
Eligible people should receive information from the DWP in October or November.
The payment itself is normally made automatically, so there is generally no need to make a separate claim if the DWP already has the information required to establish eligibility.
If you believe you should qualify but do not receive a letter or payment, the official government guidance provides information about what to do next.
The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for administering the benefit in England and Wales, while separate arrangements apply in Scotland.
Check
The 2026-27 Winter Fuel Payment is based on circumstances during September 21 to September 27, 2026. Reaching State Pension age by the end of that qualifying week is one of the main conditions, but age alone does not determine eligibility.
The amount can be £100, £150, £200 or £300 depending on age, household circumstances, qualifying benefits and whether you live in a care home.
People with income above £35,000 should also be aware that HMRC may recover the payment through the tax system.
Because the rules can depend on several personal circumstances, anyone unsure about their eligibility should check the latest official GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment rules rather than relying on the amount another household receives.
