Winter Fuel Payment 2026 to 2027: who gets it and how much
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
For winter 2026 to 2027, people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland born on or before 27 June 1960 can get a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300. It is usually paid automatically, but if your own income is over £35,000 it is taken back through the tax system. Scotland has its own, similar payment.
How the rules have changed
The Winter Fuel Payment has changed twice in quick succession, which is why there is so much confusion. For winter 2024 to 2025 it was limited to people getting Pension Credit or certain other benefits. From winter 2025 to 2026 it was opened up again to people over State Pension age, with a new rule: anyone with an income above £35,000 has the payment recovered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Those are the rules that apply this winter.
Who qualifies this winter (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
At the time of writing (November 2026), you qualify for winter 2026 to 2027 if:
- you were born on or before 27 June 1960, and
- you usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and lived there during the "qualifying week" of 21 to 27 September 2026.
You will not qualify if you were in hospital getting free treatment for that whole week and the year before it, were in prison for the whole week, or have immigration leave that says you cannot claim public funds. Special rules apply if you live in a care home.
How much you get
| Your situation in the qualifying week | Born 28 Sept 1946 to 27 June 1960 | Born before 28 Sept 1946 |
|---|---|---|
| You live alone, or nobody you live with qualifies | £200 | £300 |
| You live with someone else who qualifies, and neither of you gets Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA | £100 | £150 if they were also born before 28 Sept 1946; £200 if not |
| You get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA in your own right | £200 | £300 |
| You live in a care home | £100 | £150 |
Couples who claim one of those benefits jointly get a single payment between them. The full list is on the GOV.UK "how much you'll get" page.
The £35,000 income rule
If your total income for the tax year is over £35,000, HMRC will take the Winter Fuel Payment back. It is your own income that counts: your partner's income is not added to yours. HMRC usually collects it by changing your tax code; if you fill in a Self Assessment tax return, it is added to your tax bill instead.
If you know your income will be over the limit, or you simply do not want the payment, you can opt out so that it is never paid and nothing needs to be recovered. How to do this is explained on the Winter Fuel Payment pages on GOV.UK.
How to claim
Most people do not need to do anything. You should receive a letter in October or November saying how much you will get, and most payments arrive in November or December 2026.
You need to claim if you do not get the State Pension or another qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit, and you have either never had a Winter Fuel Payment before or have deferred (put off claiming) your State Pension since your last payment. You can claim by post, or by phone on 0800 731 0160 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). Have your National Insurance number and bank details ready. The deadline to claim for this winter is 31 March 2027.
If you live in Scotland
The Winter Fuel Payment is not paid in Scotland. Instead, Social Security Scotland pays the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. The date of birth rule and qualifying week are the same (born on or before 27 June 1960; 21 to 27 September 2026), and the same £35,000 individual income rule applies.
At the time of writing (November 2026), the Scottish payment is between £105.55 and £316.70: for example, £211.15 if you live alone and are under 80, or £316.70 if you live alone and are 80 or over. Most people are paid automatically, into the account their State Pension goes into, with letters going out from November 2026. See Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot.
Common reasons people miss out
- Deferring the State Pension. If you get no State Pension or other benefit, the system does not know to pay you. You must claim.
- Missing the 31 March deadline. Do not leave a claim until spring.
- Assuming the 2024 rules still apply. You no longer need Pension Credit to qualify.
- Out-of-date bank details. If you have changed account, tell the office that pays your pension.
Other winter help
The Winter Fuel Payment does not affect your other benefits, and it sits alongside the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment. If your income is low, a Pension Credit claim is still well worth making. For practical ways to cut heating costs, see keeping warm for less and heated throws and electric blankets.
Common questions
Do I need to be on Pension Credit to get it?
No. That was the rule for winter 2024 to 2025. This winter the test is your date of birth and where you live, with the payment recovered if your income is over £35,000.
My husband's income is over £35,000 but mine is not. Do I lose mine?
No. Each person is looked at separately. Only the person whose own income is over £35,000 has their payment taken back.
Will it reduce my other benefits?
No. GOV.UK confirms that a Winter Fuel Payment does not affect your other benefits.
What if my letter or payment has not arrived?
If you think you qualify and have heard nothing, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre using the details on GOV.UK, or Social Security Scotland if you live in Scotland. Remember the 31 March 2027 claim deadline.