If you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can get £100 to £300 towards heating for winter 2026 to 2027. Most people are paid automatically in November or December 2026. If your own income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back.

Here's who qualifies, how much you'll get, and what to do if the payment doesn't arrive. This is general information, not financial advice. Figures are as of October 2026.

Who qualifies for the Winter Fuel Payment this winter?

According to GOV.UK, you qualify if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

What matters is your situation during the qualifying week: 21 to 27 September 2026. That week decides whether you're eligible and how much you get.

You don't qualify if, for example:

  • you live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or were only visiting during the qualifying week
  • you were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of 21 to 27 September 2026 and the year before that
  • you were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week
  • your UK leave says you can't claim public funds
  • you get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA and have lived in a care home for the whole time from 29 June 2026 or earlier

If you live in Scotland, you can't get the Winter Fuel Payment. Scotland has its own payment instead (see below).

How much will you get?

The amount depends on your age, whether you live alone, and whether you get certain benefits. These are the GOV.UK amounts for 2026 to 2027.

Your situationBorn 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960Born before 28 Sep 1946
Living alone, or getting a qualifying benefit in your own name£200£300
Living with an eligible partner, neither getting a qualifying benefit£100 each£150 each
Joint claim for Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA (one person is paid)£200£300
Living in a care home£100£150

If one partner was born before 28 September 1946 and the other wasn't, and neither gets a qualifying benefit, GOV.UK says each person gets £100 or £200. The qualifying benefits here are Pension Credit, Universal Credit and income-related ESA. For a joint claim, £300 applies if one or both partners were born before 28 September 1946.

When will it be paid?

GOV.UK says that if you're eligible, you'll get a letter in October or November saying how much you'll get. Most people will be paid in November or December 2026.

Do you need to claim?

Most people don't. You get it automatically if you get the State Pension or another benefit, such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, PIP, Carer's Allowance or DLA. GOV.UK has the full list.

You'll need to claim if:

  • you don't get any of the benefits on GOV.UK's list
  • you've never had a Winter Fuel Payment before
  • you've deferred your State Pension since your last payment

Claims for winter 2026 to 2027 opened on 21 September 2026. Last winter's claim deadline was 31 March 2026. You can claim through the GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment pages.

What happens if your income is over £35,000?

You still get the payment, but HMRC takes it back. GOV.UK says:

  • It's your own total income before deductions for the tax year that counts.
  • Your partner's income does not count. So in a couple, one person can keep the payment and the other repay it.
  • If you pay tax through PAYE, HMRC changes your tax code so slightly more tax comes off your wages or pension. If it can't collect the full amount in the year, it sends you a tax calculation letter.
  • If you do Self Assessment, you must include the Winter Fuel Payment on your tax return each year you get it.

You don't need to contact HMRC to repay it. It happens through the tax system.

Can you still opt out?

Not for this winter. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) reported that the 2026/27 opt-out deadline was 6pm on 18 September 2026 by phone and 11.59pm on 20 September 2026 online. If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will now recover it as described above.

If you opted out of the 2025/26 payment, LITRG says you won't get it for 2026/27 or later years unless you opt back in. To get the 2026/27 payment, you must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by 31 March 2027.

What if you live in Scotland?

Scotland has the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead. Mygov.scot says you could get between £105.55 and £316.70, most people are paid automatically, and letters are being sent from November 2026. The same £35,000 rule applies: if your own total income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back. Check the mygov.scot page for the details.

What other help is there this winter?

The Winter Fuel Payment is separate from other help, so you can get more than one. Check our guide to the Warm Home Discount 2026/27, a £150 rebate on your electricity bill for eligible households.

Pension Credit matters too. Couples on a joint Pension Credit claim get the higher Winter Fuel Payment amounts in the table above. If you're over State Pension age on a low income, it's worth checking whether you can claim it.

To see what your energy should cost this winter, try our energy bill estimator. Our guides to the October 2026 price cap and practical ways to use less energy can help you plan.

What to do next

  • Check your date of birth: on or before 27 June 1960 means you're likely to qualify
  • Look out for your letter in October or November 2026 and check the amount against the table above
  • If you don't get any qualifying benefit or have deferred your State Pension, make a claim on GOV.UK
  • If you opted out last year and want it this year, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by 31 March 2027
  • If your own income is over £35,000, expect a tax code change or include it on your Self Assessment return
  • In Scotland, check the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot
  • Check whether you can also get the Warm Home Discount or Pension Credit

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