The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed when the Winter Fuel Payment will land in bank accounts, with payments starting from mid-November 2026. The payment is designed to ease the pressure on bills during the winter months and ranges between £100 and £300 per household across the UK.
To receive the payment, you must have been born on or before June 27, 1960. Eligible individuals will receive a letter in the post telling them how much Winter Fuel Payment they will get. Any money received will not affect other benefits.
Who is eligible
You can get the Winter Fuel Payment if you have reached State Pension age. You may get a payment if you were born on or before June 27, 1960, and lived in England or Wales during Qualifying Week, which ran from September 21 to 27, 2026.
Most eligible people will be paid automatically without having to make a claim. You will need to claim if you have deferred your State Pension and do not get another DWP benefit. You do not need to claim if you receive 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.
How much you will receive
The exact amount depends on when you were born and your circumstances during Qualifying Week. You will get the higher amount if you are 80 years of age or over.
If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you will get £200 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £300 if you were born before September 28, 1946.
If you live with someone else who is eligible, your payment may differ if you get Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). If you do not get any of these benefits, you will get £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960; £100 if you were born between those dates but the person you live with was born before September 28, 1946; £200 if you were born before September 28, 1946 but the person you live with was born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960; or £150 if you and the person you live with were both born before September 28, 1946.
If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits, one of you will get £200 if both were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £300 if one or both were born before September 28, 1946. If you get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim), you will get £200 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £300 if you were born before September 28, 1946. If you live in a care home, you could be eligible for £100 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £150 if you were born before September 28, 1946.
Payments will be made into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into.
