Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027 is £200, or £300 for people born before 28 September 1946, with lower amounts where two eligible people live together. It goes to people born on or before 27 June 1960, mostly in November and December 2026, and HMRC takes it back if total income is over £35,000.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 3 NOVEMBER 2026
- Eligible: people born on or before 27 June 1960 living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland in the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026.
- Amounts: £200 or £300 living alone, £100 to £200 when sharing with another eligible person, £100 or £150 in a care home.
- Most payments are made automatically in November and December 2026; the claim deadline is 31 March 2027.
- HMRC takes the payment back where total income is over £35,000, usually through the tax code.
- DWP paid 10.9 million people in winter 2025 to 2026, up from 1.3 million the winter before.
Winter Fuel Payment at a glance
| Item | Winter 2026 to 2027 |
| Born on or before | 27 June 1960 |
| Qualifying week | 21 to 27 September 2026 |
| Amount | £100 to £300 |
| Paid | November and December 2026 |
| Income threshold | £35,000 |
| Claim deadline | 31 March 2027 |
Source: GOV.UK
KEY FACTS
- Eligibility: born on or before 27 June 1960 (GOV.UK).
- Amounts: £100 to £300 (GOV.UK).
- Income threshold for repayment: £35,000 (GOV.UK).
- Recipients in winter 2025 to 2026: 10.9 million in England and Wales (DWP, 15 September 2026).
- Winter Fuel Payment Centre: 0800 731 0160, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Who gets Winter Fuel Payment
Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027 goes to people born on or before 27 June 1960 who usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The qualifying week is 21 to 27 September 2026. People in Scotland cannot get Winter Fuel Payment; the Scottish Government runs the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead.
People do not qualify if they were in hospital getting free NHS treatment for the whole qualifying week and the year before it, were in prison for the whole qualifying week, or have leave to enter the UK with no recourse to public funds. Care home residents can qualify, except where they get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related ESA and have lived in a care home for the whole time from 29 June 2026 or earlier.
How much Winter Fuel Payment is
Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027 is between £100 and £300. People living alone, or with no one else eligible, get £200 if born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, and £300 if born before 28 September 1946.
Where two eligible people live together and neither gets a qualifying benefit, the amount is £100, £150 or £200 each, depending on both dates of birth. People getting Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA get £200, or £300 if born before 28 September 1946; on a joint claim one person is paid for the couple. Eligible care home residents get £100, or £150 if born before 28 September 1946.
The payment does not affect other benefits.
| Situation | Born 28 September 1946 to 27 June 1960 | Born before 28 September 1946 |
|---|---|---|
| Living alone, or no one else in the home is eligible | £200 | £300 |
| Living with an eligible person born 28 September 1946 to 27 June 1960, no qualifying benefit | £100 | £200 |
| Living with an eligible person born before 28 September 1946, no qualifying benefit | £100 | £150 |
| Getting Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA | £200 | £300 |
| Living in a care home and eligible | £100 | £150 |
Source: GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, how much you'll get
When it is paid and how to claim
Most Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically in November or December 2026, after a letter in October or November confirming the amount. The payment goes into the account that usually receives State Pension or other benefits. People who get State Pension or certain benefits, including Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance, are usually paid without claiming.
A claim is needed by people who have never had Winter Fuel Payment, or who have deferred their State Pension since their last payment. Claims by post opened on 21 September 2026 and by phone on 19 October 2026, on 0800 731 0160, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. There is no online claim. The deadline to claim for winter 2026 to 2027 is 31 March 2027.
Anyone with no letter or payment by 27 January 2027 is told to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 21 to 27 September 2026 | Qualifying week |
| 21 September 2026 | Claims by post open |
| 19 October 2026 | Claims by phone open |
| October and November 2026 | Letters confirming the amount |
| November and December 2026 | Most payments made |
| 21 December 2026 | Opting out for winter 2027 to 2028 opens |
| 27 January 2027 | Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if no letter or payment has arrived |
| 31 March 2027 | Deadline to claim for winter 2026 to 2027 |
Source: GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment
The £35,000 income rule
Under the rule applied by HMRC, if total income in the tax year is over £35,000, HMRC takes the Winter Fuel Payment back. A partner's income does not count towards this total. HMRC usually collects the money through the tax code and writes first to say the code has changed. People who file Self Assessment repay through the tax bill, where it appears as the Winter Fuel Payment charge.
Where the 2025 payment is still being collected, HMRC collects both years together, which adds about £30 to £33 a month in tax when both payments are £200. Opting out for winter 2026 to 2027 has closed, and opting out for winter 2027 to 2028 opens on 21 December 2026.
HMRC's impact assessment estimated that 2.2 million pensioners would have payments recovered, and DWP recorded 53,000 pensioners who opted out before payment.
| Point | Rule |
|---|---|
| Threshold | Total income over £35,000 in the tax year, before deductions |
| Partner's income | Does not count |
| Employees and pensioners | Usually collected through the tax code |
| Self Assessment | Collected through the tax bill, shown as the Winter Fuel Payment charge |
| Two years collected together | About £30 to £33 a month extra tax where both payments are £200 |
| Estates | Usually repaid when the estate is settled |
Source: GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, if your income is over £35,000
How many people get it
The Department for Work and Pensions paid Winter Fuel Payment to 10.9 million people in England and Wales in winter 2025 to 2026, according to statistics published on 15 September 2026. That was up from 1.3 million in winter 2024 to 2025, when payments were limited to pensioners on certain means-tested benefits. It was also 290,000 more than the 10.6 million paid in winter 2023 to 2024.
Of the recipients, 7.7 million, or 70%, were under 80. By payment amount, 38% of recipients got £200, 37% got £100, 17% got £300 and 9% got £150.
| Winter | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 2020 to 2021 | 10.1 million |
| 2021 to 2022 | 10.2 million |
| 2022 to 2023 | 10.4 million |
| 2023 to 2024 | 10.6 million |
| 2024 to 2025 | 1.3 million |
| 2025 to 2026 | 10.9 million |
Source: DWP: Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2025 to 2026
| Amount | Share of recipients |
|---|---|
| £100 | 37% |
| £150 | 9% |
| £200 | 38% |
| £300 | 17% |
Source: DWP: Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2025 to 2026
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
This article is editorial information, not financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Figures were correct at the last review date shown above; verify current rates and rules with the primary sources listed below before acting.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Winter Fuel Payment for 2026 to 2027?
Winter Fuel Payment for 2026 to 2027 is between £100 and £300. Someone living alone gets £200, or £300 if born before 28 September 1946. Lower amounts apply where two eligible people live together or in a care home.
Who is eligible for Winter Fuel Payment this winter?
People born on or before 27 June 1960 who usually lived in England, Wales or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026 are eligible for Winter Fuel Payment this winter.
When will Winter Fuel Payment be paid?
Most Winter Fuel Payments arrive in November or December 2026. Anyone with no letter or payment by 27 January 2027 is told to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
Do I have to pay Winter Fuel Payment back?
Winter Fuel Payment must be paid back only if total income in the tax year is over £35,000. HMRC usually collects it through the tax code, or through the tax bill for Self Assessment. A partner's income does not count.
What is the deadline to claim Winter Fuel Payment?
The deadline to claim Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027 is 31 March 2027. Claims are by post or by phone on 0800 731 0160; there is no online claim.
SOURCES
- GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, accessed 3 November 2026
- GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, eligibility, accessed 3 November 2026
- GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, how much you'll get, accessed 3 November 2026
- GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, check if you need to claim, accessed 3 November 2026
- GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, when you'll get paid, accessed 3 November 2026
- GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, if your income is over the threshold, accessed 3 November 2026
- GOV.UK: Opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment, accessed 3 November 2026
- DWP: Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2025 to 2026, 15 September 2026, accessed 3 November 2026
