The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that Winter Fuel Payments of between £100 and £300 will be paid to eligible pensioners in November or December. The payment helps with heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027.
To qualify, you must have been born on or before 27 June 1960. The exact amount you receive depends on your date of birth and your circumstances during Qualifying Week, which ran from 21 to 27 September 2026.
How the payment is calculated
The DWP uses Qualifying Week to work out how much each person will receive. After this week, eligible people will receive a letter in the post confirming their payment.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December. If you have not received a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 27 January 2027, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Who gets it automatically
You will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you already receive any of the following benefits:
- 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
- Industrial Death Benefit
If you do not receive any of these benefits, you need to make a claim if either of the following applies: you have not received the Winter Fuel Payment before, or you have deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment. The deadline to claim for winter 2026 to 2027 is 31 March 2027.
Who is not eligible
You will not be eligible if you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related ESA and you lived in a care home for the whole time from 29 June 2026 or earlier. You will also not be eligible if you usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland, were in hospital receiving free treatment for the whole of the week of 21 to 27 September 2026 and the year before that, need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds, or were in prison for the whole of the week of 21 to 27 September 2026.
Any money you receive will not affect your other benefits.
