Winter Fuel Allowance 2026/27: Winter Fuel Payment Rules and Amounts

The Winter Fuel Payment, often called the winter fuel allowance, is a yearly payment to help older people with heating bills. The rules have changed twice recently. In winter 2024 to 2025 it was only paid to people on Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits. From winter 2025 to 2026 it goes to people over State Pension age again, but if your income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back through your tax.

This guide explains the rules for winter 2026 to 2027 from GOV.UK: who can get it, how much it is, whether you need to claim, and when it is paid.

Winter Fuel Payment 2026 to 2027 at a glance

• Who: people born on or before 27 June 1960 who usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
• How much: between £100 and £300, depending on your age and who you live with
• Qualifying week: 21 to 27 September 2026
• Letters: sent in October or November 2026
• Payment: most people are paid in November or December 2026
• Income over £35,000: HMRC will take the payment back
• Claim deadline (if you need to claim): 31 March 2027

The payment does not affect your other benefits.

Who can get the Winter Fuel Payment

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027 if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

When you will not be eligible

You will not get it if you:

• usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland
• were only visiting England, Wales or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week (21 to 27 September 2026)
• 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 your leave says you cannot claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week

If you live in a care home

You can get the Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. You will not be eligible if both of these apply:

• you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• you have lived in a care home for the whole time from 29 June 2026 or earlier

For more on money when you move into care, see our article on the State Pension and care homes and our paying for care guide.

If you live in Scotland

You cannot get the Winter Fuel Payment. You might be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Paying it back if your income is over £35,000

Since winter 2025 to 2026, the Winter Fuel Payment has an income threshold. If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. Your partner's income does not count towards your total.

• HMRC will usually collect it by changing your tax code, so more tax is taken from your wages or pension.
• If you fill in a Self Assessment tax return, you must include the payment, and it will be added to your tax bill.
• If HMRC is still collecting last winter's payment, it may collect two payments at once for a while. GOV.UK gives the example of paying about £30 to £33 more tax a month if your payment is £200 in both years.

You can opt out of the payment if your income is over £35,000 or you do not want it. It is now too late to opt out for winter 2026 to 2027. You will be able to opt out for 2027 to 2028 from 21 December 2026.

How much you will get for winter 2026 to 2027

The amount depends on when you were born and your circumstances in the qualifying week (21 to 27 September 2026).

If you live alone, or no one you live with is eligible

• £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960
• £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946

If you live with someone else who is eligible, and neither of you gets Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA

Your situation	Your payment
You and the other person were both born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960	£100
You were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, and the other person was born before 28 September 1946	£100
You were born before 28 September 1946, and the other person was born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960	£200
You were both born before 28 September 1946	£150

If you and your partner jointly claim Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA

One of you will get:

• £200 if you were both born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960
• £300 if one or both of you were born before 28 September 1946

If you get one of those benefits on your own (not a joint claim)

• £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960
• £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946

If you live in a care home and are eligible

• £100 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960
• £150 if you were born before 28 September 1946

Do you need to claim?

Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically. You do not need to claim if you get any of these:

• State Pension
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carer's Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit or Industrial Death Benefit

If you do not get any of these, you need to claim if you have not had the Winter Fuel Payment before, or if you have deferred your State Pension since your last payment.

How to claim

• By post: from 21 September 2026. Fill in the Winter Fuel Payment claim form on GOV.UK and send it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
• By phone: from 19 October 2026, on 0800 731 0160 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).

The deadline to claim for winter 2026 to 2027 is 31 March 2027. When you contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, you will need details such as your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number. Read more in our guide to National Insurance credits.

When you will be paid

Most payments are made automatically in November or December. You should get a letter telling you how much you will get and which bank account it will go into. This is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits.

If you have not had a letter, or the money has not arrived by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Reporting changes and challenging a decision

Tell the Winter Fuel Payment Centre as soon as possible if your circumstances change, for example if you move house or move into a care home. You may have to repay money if you do not report a change, give wrong information, or are overpaid by mistake.

If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for it to be looked at again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration.

Beware of scams

GOV.UK warns that people may get calls, emails or texts pretending to be from a government service. If a message asks for your bank details or passwords, it could be a scam.

Other help with heating and living costs

1. Cold Weather Payment: If you get Pension Credit or certain other benefits, you will usually get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. It is paid automatically. It is not available in Scotland.
2. Warm Home Discount: A one-off £150 off your electricity bill if you qualify, for example because you get Pension Credit. See our Warm Home Discount guide.
3. Pension Credit: Tops up your weekly income to £238 if you are single, or £363.25 for a couple, in 2026/27. It also opens the door to other help.
4. Council Tax Reduction: Your bill could be reduced by up to 100% if you are on a low income.
5. Attendance Allowance: £76.70 or £114.60 a week if you are State Pension age or older and need help with personal care. It is not means-tested.
6. Free TV licence: If you are 75 or over and get Pension Credit.
7. Help from your council: Your local council may be able to help with the cost of living, depending on the rules in your area.

For a full list, see our guide to benefits for over 60s.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Winter Fuel Payment the same as the winter fuel allowance?

Yes. "Winter fuel allowance" is a common name for it. The official name is the Winter Fuel Payment.

Do all pensioners get the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026?

Most pensioners born on or before 27 June 1960 who live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland will get it. But if your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take it back. People in Scotland get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead, if eligible.

How much is the Winter Fuel Payment for 2026 to 2027?

Between £100 and £300. Most people who live alone get £200, or £300 if they were born before 28 September 1946.

When will the Winter Fuel Payment be paid?

Most payments are made in November or December 2026. Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you have not been paid by 27 January 2027.

Does the Winter Fuel Payment affect other benefits?

No. Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.

Feature image photo by Christian Dubovan on Unsplash

Sources

• Winter Fuel Payment (GOV.UK)
• Winter Fuel Payment: if your income is over £35,000 (GOV.UK)
• Equality analysis for Winter Fuel Payments 2025 (Department for Work and Pensions)
• Cold Weather Payment (GOV.UK)
• Warm Home Discount Scheme (GOV.UK)
• Pension Credit (GOV.UK)
• Apply for Council Tax Reduction (GOV.UK)
• Attendance Allowance (GOV.UK)
• Get a free or discounted TV licence (GOV.UK)