The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that pensioners who usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland will not receive the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026/27.
The department has removed the claim form previously used by eligible pensioners living in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. The change means those living abroad can no longer use the old process to apply for the payment.
The Winter Fuel Payment is worth between £100 and £300 for eligible people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, depending on their age and circumstances.
Importantly, this is not a new change for winter 2026/27. The overseas eligibility rules changed from winter 2025/26. The latest DWP update confirms that the previous claims process for people living in certain European countries is no longer available.
Change
The DWP updated its official guidance on September 18 and withdrew the form used to claim Winter Fuel Payment from the EEA and Switzerland.
The department stated on GOV.UK: “The form to claim a Winter Fuel Payment in the EEA and Switzerland has been removed as people living outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland are no longer eligible.”
This means the removal of the form is mainly an administrative confirmation of an existing eligibility rule.
In previous years, some pensioners living in certain EEA countries and Switzerland could qualify for Winter Fuel Payment, subject to the rules in place at the time. Those arrangements no longer apply.
Eligibility
For winter 2026/27, people generally need to meet the age requirement and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The qualifying birth date for this winter is June 27, 1960, meaning people born on or before that date may qualify if they meet the other conditions.
Living in one of the eligible parts of the UK does not automatically guarantee a payment. Other circumstances can affect eligibility.
For example, someone may not qualify if they were in hospital receiving free treatment for the whole of the qualifying week, September 21 to September 27, 2026, and the year before that.
People who were in prison throughout the qualifying week can also be excluded. There are also restrictions for people who require permission to enter the UK and have immigration conditions stating that they cannot claim public funds.
Different rules can apply to people living in care homes.
Overseas
The overseas rule is particularly important for pensioners who have moved abroad after spending much of their working life in the UK.
The DWP’s current guidance specifically excludes people who usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The change also affects pensioners living in countries that previously had arrangements allowing some residents to receive Winter Fuel Payment.
The department’s statistics for winter 2025/26 reflected the change. DWP said its statistics no longer report Winter Fuel Payments made to people living in previously eligible EEA countries and Switzerland because residents there are no longer entitled to the support.
Therefore, pensioners living abroad should not assume that the old application procedure remains available simply because they received the payment in an earlier year.
Amounts
For eligible people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the payment for winter 2026/27 can range from £100 to £300.
The amount depends partly on age and whether another person in the household also qualifies.
For example, someone who lives alone, or lives with nobody else who qualifies, can receive £200 if they were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960.
People born before September 28, 1946 can receive £300 under the relevant circumstances.
| Circumstance | Winter Fuel Payment |
|---|---|
| Eligible person in specified age range living alone | £200 |
| Eligible person born before September 28, 1946 | £300 |
| Other household circumstances | Amount can vary |
The payment may be different when two eligible people live together because household circumstances affect the amount each person receives.
Income
Having a higher income does not automatically prevent someone from receiving the Winter Fuel Payment.
People with an income above £35,000 can still receive the payment if they otherwise qualify. However, HM Revenue and Customs will recover the amount through the tax system.
This can happen through an adjustment to a person’s tax code or by adding the amount to their Self Assessment bill.
This means some higher-income pensioners may initially receive the payment but subsequently have the money recovered through taxation.
Payments
Most people who qualify do not need to submit an application.
The DWP says eligible pensioners should receive a letter during October or November explaining how much they will receive.
For people who do need to make a claim, applications for winter 2026/27 are due to open from September 21.
Anyone who believes they should qualify but does not receive a letter or payment should check the latest GOV.UK guidance and their individual circumstances rather than relying on previous years’ rules.
The qualifying week is September 21 to September 27, 2026, and certain circumstances during that period can affect eligibility.
Scotland
Winter Fuel Payment is no longer the pension-age winter heating benefit for people living in Scotland.
Instead, eligible pensioners in Scotland are covered by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, which is a separate devolved benefit administered by Social Security Scotland.
This means pensioners should check the rules applicable to the part of the UK where they normally live.
The Scottish system should not be confused with the Winter Fuel Payment arrangements applying in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Outlook
The latest DWP update confirms that pensioners who usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland cannot claim Winter Fuel Payment under the current rules, including through the old EEA and Switzerland form.
The key point is that the withdrawal of the form does not represent a new eligibility change for winter 2026/27. The overseas restriction began in winter 2025/26, and the latest update confirms that the previous application route is no longer available.
For eligible pensioners living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, payments for winter 2026/27 can range from £100 to £300 depending on individual circumstances. Most eligible people will receive their payment automatically, while some will need to apply from September 21.
