The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the dates and amounts for Winter Fuel Payments for winter 2026 to 2027. Eligible pensioners will receive between £100 and £300 to help with heating bills, with letters being sent out in October or November.
Who qualifies and how much you get
People born on or before 27 June 1960 could get between £100 and £300 for winter 2026 to 2027. However, if your income exceeds £35,000, HMRC will take the payment back. Your partner's income does not count towards your total.
The amount you receive depends on your date of birth and circumstances during the qualifying week of September 21-27, 2026. State pensioners born before September 28, 1946, will receive an automatic £100 increase, meaning eligible pensioners over 80 will receive a total £300, up from the standard £200.
Payments and eligibility details
According to the DWP, most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2026. Payments are made to the bank account where benefits are typically deposited, and the majority of eligible individuals receive the payment automatically.
If you share accommodation with another eligible person, your payment could vary if you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Without those benefits, you get £100 if both you and the person you live with were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, or if you were born in that period but the person you live with was born earlier. Eligible care home residents born between those dates also get £100.
What to do if you don't receive payment
You do not need to claim if you receive benefits such as State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), income-related ESA, War Pensions Scheme awards, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, or Industrial Death Benefit.
If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid by January 28, 2026, HMRC advises contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160, by post, or via the email enquiry form. Rules differ for people in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where separate schemes exist.
