The Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027 is worth between £100 and £300 for eligible people born on or before 27 June 1960 who usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Most eligible people do not need to make a claim. If you do need to claim, the 2026/27 claim window opens on 21 September 2026.
Who can get the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026/27?
You can qualify if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Your circumstances during the qualifying week, 21 to 27 September 2026, affect entitlement and the amount.
You will not normally qualify if, for example, you usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland, were in prison for the whole qualifying week, or your immigration leave says you cannot claim public funds. Special rules also apply to people in hospital or living in a care home.
Scotland is different: people living in Scotland cannot get Winter Fuel Payment. The relevant devolved payment is Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
How much will you get?
The payment ranges from £100 to £300. Your amount depends on your date of birth and your circumstances during the qualifying week.
If you live alone, or nobody you live with is eligible, GOV.UK says you will get:
- £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960;
- £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946.
Different amounts can apply when more than one eligible person lives in the household or in certain care-home situations, so use the official payment table rather than assuming the £300 maximum applies to everyone.
Do you need to claim?
Most people are paid automatically. You normally do not need to claim if you receive State Pension or one of several listed benefits, including Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and certain other specified benefits.
If you do not receive one of the listed benefits, you may need to claim if you have never received Winter Fuel Payment before or if you deferred your State Pension since your last payment.
When can you claim?
Claims for winter 2026/27 open on 21 September 2026. As of 1 September 2026, GOV.UK says the 2026/27 claim form will be made available later, so do not rely on an old 2025/26 form.
What documents will you need?
Because the 2026/27 claim form had not yet been published on 1 September, the safest approach is to check the final form when the window opens rather than using last year’s document list. Your National Insurance number is a key identifier used by the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. Keep your personal details and benefit/pension information to hand.
When will the payment arrive?
If you are eligible, you should normally receive a letter in October or November telling you how much you will get and which bank account it will be paid into. Most payments are made automatically in November or December 2026.
If you have not received a letter or payment by 27 January 2027 but believe you qualify, GOV.UK advises contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
The £35,000 income rule: payment may be recovered by HMRC
For 2026/27, if your individual total income is more than £35,000, you may receive the payment but HMRC will take back an amount equal to the Winter Fuel Payment. The test is individual, not based on your partner’s income.
HMRC can recover the amount through a PAYE tax-code adjustment or Self Assessment. People receiving certain means-tested benefits during the qualifying week are exempt from the charge under the current rules.
Can you opt out?
If you expect your income to be over £35,000, or simply do not want the payment, GOV.UK provides an opt-out process. For winter 2026/27, the online/form deadline is 11:59pm on 20 September 2026; the telephone deadline is 6pm on 18 September 2026. You need your National Insurance number.
Watch out for scams
GOV.UK specifically warns about messages or calls pretending to be from government services and asking for bank details, passwords or other personal data. People who are due an automatic payment should be particularly cautious of messages claiming they must “apply now” through an unofficial link.
Before 21 September: what to check
- confirm your date of birth and normal place of residence;
- check whether you already receive a benefit that makes payment automatic;
- review your circumstances for the qualifying week, 21–27 September;
- if your income may exceed £35,000, check the HMRC recovery and opt-out guidance;
- if you need to claim, use the 2026/27 form only after GOV.UK publishes it.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone get £300?
No. £300 is the top amount. Your age and household circumstances determine whether you receive £100, £150, £200 or £300.
I receive State Pension. Do I need to apply?
In most cases, no. State Pension is one of the benefits listed by GOV.UK for automatic payment, provided you meet the eligibility rules.
My income is over £35,000. Am I automatically excluded?
Not in the usual sense. The payment can still be made, but HMRC normally recovers an amount equal to it, unless an exemption applies.
Can I use the old claim form now?
No. GOV.UK says the winter 2026/27 claim form will be available later. Claims open on 21 September 2026.
Official information and claim pages
- GOV.UK — Winter Fuel Payment
- Eligibility
- How much you’ll get
- Check if you need to claim
- When you’ll get paid
- HMRC — Paying back the Winter Fuel Payment
