Winter Fuel Payment 2026: who gets £100 to £300, and when
Anyone with a total income over £35,000 will have the money taken back through the tax system.
Anyone born on or before 27 June 1960 could get a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300, with most eligible people paid in November or December 2026, according to GOV.UK.
The money is meant to help with heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027, and in most cases there is no need to claim it.
The payment covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Someone living in Scotland cannot get it, but might be eligible for the Pension Age Winter Heating payment instead.
| Household | Born 28 September 1946 to 27 June 1960 | Born before 28 September 1946 |
|---|---|---|
| Living alone, or no one else in the home qualifies | £200 | £300 |
| Couple jointly claiming certain benefits (one payment; the older partner’s birth date decides) | £200 | £300 |
| Living with someone else who qualifies, without those benefits (each paid separately) | £100 | £150, or £200 if the other person was born 28 September 1946 to 27 June 1960 |
| Living in a care home | £100 | £150 |
Who qualifies for the 2026-27 payment?
Much of the detail turns on one week, 21 to 27 September 2026, known as the qualifying week.
GOV.UK’s eligibility guidance says a person is not eligible if they:
- usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland
- were visiting England, Wales or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week, but usually live somewhere else
- were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the qualifying week and the year before that
- need permission to enter the UK, and their granted leave says they cannot claim public funds
- were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week
People in a care home can still get the payment, unless both of these apply:
- they get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- they have lived in a care home for the whole time from 29 June 2026 or earlier
How much will I get?
The amount is based on when a person was born and on their circumstances in the qualifying week, GOV.UK’s page on how much you’ll get shows.
Couples who jointly claim any of the benefits listed on that page are paid once, to one of the two. It is £300 if one or both were born before 28 September 1946, and £200 if both were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960.
Someone who shares a home with another eligible person, but does not get any of those benefits, is paid separately. Anyone in that position born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 gets £100, whatever the other person’s age.
For someone born before 28 September 1946, it is £150 if the other person was also born before that date, and £200 if not.
In a care home, an eligible resident gets £100 or £150, on the same birth-date split.
When will the payment arrive?
Eligible people should get a letter in October or November saying how much they will get and which bank account it will be paid into.
That is usually the account their State Pension or other benefits already go into.
Most payments then follow automatically in November or December, GOV.UK’s page on when you’ll get paid says.
Do I need to claim, or is it automatic?
The claim guidance on GOV.UK says someone who qualifies does not need to claim if they get any of the following:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- income-related ESA
- awards from the War Pensions Scheme
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Death Benefit
Anyone who gets none of these needs to claim if they have never had a Winter Fuel Payment before, or have deferred their State Pension since their last one.
Postal claims can be made from 21 September 2026, and phone claims from 19 October 2026. The deadline for winter 2026 to 2027 is 31 March 2027.
Claim forms sent by post go to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
What if my income is over £35,000?
People with higher incomes still receive the payment, but GOV.UK’s guidance on income over £35,000 says HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will take it back from anyone whose total income is above that level.
HMRC will usually collect it through a person’s tax code. Anyone who completes a Self Assessment tax return pays it through their tax bill instead.
What if my circumstances change?
Changes such as moving house or moving into a care home can affect how much is paid. GOV.UK’s guidance on reporting a change says they should be reported as soon as possible.
Can I opt out?
Not for 2026-27. GOV.UK says the option to opt out of that payment has closed, and opting out of the 2027-28 payment will be possible from 21 December 2026.
What else should I know?
Does the payment affect other benefits?
No. The guidance is that any money received will not affect a person’s other benefits.
Does a partner’s income count towards the £35,000?
No. Only a person’s own total income counts under the guidance on income over £35,000.
What if I am paid too much?
Under the guidance on reporting a change, the money may have to be repaid if a change was not reported straight away, wrong information was given, or someone was overpaid by mistake.
Can I opt back in after opting out?
Yes, by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, the opt-out guidance says.
What if the payment does not arrive?
Anyone whose letter has not arrived, or whose money has not been paid into their account, by 27 January 2027 should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, the guidance on payments says. The centre’s phone number is 0800 731 0160.