Nearly 10 mn pensioners are eligible for Winter Fuel Payments each year, with the first payments for winter 2026-2027 beginning in November. The government provides between £100 and £300 to help older households meet heating costs, depending on their age, living arrangements and benefit status.
However, pensioners with annual income exceeding £35,000 face having their payments recovered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). An estimated two million people could be affected by the income threshold, with repayments generally collected automatically through the tax system.
- Winter Fuel Payments of £100 to £300 are being distributed from mid-November, with most eligible pensioners receiving their money automatically by December 2026.
- Eligibility is determined by circumstances during September 21-27, 2026, with the amount depending on age, household composition and certain benefits.
- HMRC will recover payments from pensioners whose individual annual income exceeds £35,000, generally through PAYE tax codes or Self Assessment.
Eligible pensioners can receive up to £300 this winter, but exceeding the £35,000 annual income threshold may result in HMRC reclaiming the full amount.
Who qualifies for Winter Fuel Payment in 2026?
Pensioners born on or before June 27, 1960, who normally live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland may qualify for the payment.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) assesses eligibility using a qualifying week running from September 21 to September 27, 2026.
People who normally live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland are not eligible. Scotland operates a separate Pension Age Winter Heating Payment scheme.
Other exclusions apply to individuals who spent the entire qualifying week in prison, as well as certain people receiving free hospital treatment over an extended period or who are subject to immigration restrictions on accessing public funds.
Care home residents may qualify, but payments are excluded where an individual receives Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance and has lived in a care home continuously since June 29, 2026, or earlier.
How much Winter Fuel Payment will pensioners receive?
The amount depends on the recipient’s date of birth and whether other eligible people live in the same household.
| Circumstances | Payment |
|---|---|
| Living alone, born September 28, 1946-June 27, 1960 | £200 |
| Living alone, born before September 28, 1946 | £300 |
| Two eligible residents, both under 80, without qualifying benefits | £100 each |
| Two eligible residents, both aged 80 or over, without qualifying benefits | £150 each |
| Eligible resident aged 80 or over living with an eligible person under 80, without qualifying benefits | £200 for the older resident, £100 for the younger |
| Eligible care home resident under 80 | £100 |
| Eligible care home resident aged 80 or over | £150 |
Where partners jointly claim Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, one partner normally receives the household payment.
This is £200 if both were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £300 if at least one was born earlier.
Eligible people receiving those benefits individually can receive £200 or £300, depending on their age.
HMRC to recover Winter Fuel Payments above £35,000 income
Under the income rules, pensioners whose individual annual income exceeds £35,000 are generally required to repay the full Winter Fuel Payment.
The threshold applies to personal income rather than combined household income. A spouse or partner’s earnings are not included when assessing whether an individual exceeds the limit.
Income from employment, pensions and savings may count towards the calculation.
Recipients of certain means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit and Universal Credit, are exempt from the recovery charge.
Pensioners subject to PAYE will normally have their tax codes adjusted automatically, increasing the amount deducted from their pension or employment income.
The repayment is collected as a tax charge equal to the Winter Fuel Payment, rather than through a reduction in the pensioner’s original benefit.
Those registered for Self Assessment will instead have the payment included in their tax calculation.
HMRC has also introduced arrangements that can result in recovery of payments from more than one winter during the same tax year.
For example, a pensioner repaying £200 for both winter 2025-2026 and winter 2026-2027 could face approximately £30-£33 in additional monthly tax deductions during overlapping recovery periods.
HMRC will notify affected taxpayers of changes to their tax codes. If the full amount cannot be recovered through PAYE, the department may issue a separate tax calculation.
When will Winter Fuel Payments arrive in bank accounts?
Most eligible households will receive their payments automatically during November or December 2026.
The DWP generally sends letters in October or November confirming the amount due and the bank account into which it will be paid. Payments usually go directly into the account used for the State Pension or other qualifying benefits.
Recipients do not normally need to submit a claim if they already receive the State Pension, Pension Credit or other specified government benefits.
However, some pensioners who have deferred their State Pension or have not previously received Winter Fuel Payment may need to apply.
The deadline to make a claim for winter 2026-2027 is March 31, 2027.
Pensioners who have not received their payment or notification by January 27, 2027, should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
The telephone number is 0800 731 0160.
Can pensioners opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment?
Pensioners who expected their income to exceed £35,000 could opt out rather than receive money that HMRC would subsequently reclaim. However, the opt-out window for winter 2026-2027 has already closed. Those who did not opt out may still receive their payment, even if they will ultimately be required to repay it.
The next opt-out period, covering winter 2027-2028, opens on December 21, 2026.
For pensioners whose income remains within the permitted threshold, the payment is retained in full and does not reduce their entitlement to other benefits.
