Millions of people across the UK will receive the Winter Fuel Payment this year, with payments between £100 and £300 to help with heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027.
As the end of September approaches and temperatures are set to drop, the DWP payment is designed to assist with heating costs during the colder months. The government website has set out the eligibility criteria, stating: "If you were born on or before 27 June 1960 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027."
How payments are made
Most claimants receive the payment automatically if they are eligible. Eligible individuals will receive a letter in October or November detailing the amount they will get, with most payments issued in the final two months of the year.
Everyone over State Pension age in England and Wales with an income of £35,000 a year or below will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment this winter.
Who will not receive the payment
The DWP has outlined circumstances in which some people may not receive the payment. You will not receive it if you usually live outside England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, or if you were visiting these nations during the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026 but usually live elsewhere.
You will also not be eligible if you were in hospital receiving free treatment for the whole of the qualifying week and the year before, if you need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states you cannot claim public funds, or if you were in prison for the whole of the week of 21 to 27 September 2026.
Care home residents are eligible, but not if they receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and have lived in a care home since 29 June 2026 or earlier.
Payment amounts and claiming process
The amount you receive is based on your date of birth and circumstances between 21 and 27 September 2026, known as the qualifying week. Nine million pensioners are set to receive payments automatically, with no action required. For those with incomes above the threshold, the payment will be recovered by HMRC, and no one needs to register with HMRC.
Payments go to the main claimant receiving a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit. If no such benefit is in payment, a shared payment is made to a couple. 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 ESA, War Pensions Scheme awards, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, or Industrial Death Benefit.
If you receive none of these, you need to claim if you have not received the Winter Fuel Payment before or if you have deferred your State Pension since your last payment.
