State pensioners could receive up to £460 in one-off payments and discounts this winter. With September drawing to a close, households should be aware of several schemes that could provide help with heating bills and other costs over the coming months.
The support includes the Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300, the Warm Home Discount, worth £150, and the £10 Christmas Bonus. Some people could also qualify for Cold Weather Payments of £25 when temperatures fall to the required level.
It's worth noting, however, that receiving the State Pension alone does not automatically mean you will qualify for every payment.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born on or before June 27, 1960, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027. If you're eligible, you'll receive a letter in October or November saying how much you'll get. Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2026.
If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. Your partner's income does not count towards your total. The scheme applies to people who live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. People living in Scotland cannot receive Winter Fuel Payment but may qualify for the Scottish Government's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill. If you're eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme will reopen in October 2026 for this winter. You'll usually get the discount automatically though the Government states that may need to apply directly to your energy supplier if you live in Scotland. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you're eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.
In England and Wales, eligibility includes households where the person named on the electricity bill, or their partner, receives certain means-tested benefits. Qualifying benefits include Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Your energy supplier must also be part of the scheme.
Cold Weather Payment and Christmas Bonus
You may get Cold Weather Payments if you're getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. If you're eligible, you'll get these payments automatically. You do not need to apply, but you may need to report a change in circumstances if you have a baby or if a child under five-years-old comes to live with you.
You may get Cold Weather Payments if you're receiving Pension Credit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest. Those who are eligible will receive the Cold Weather Payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over 7 consecutive days. Those who are eligible will get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. If you live in Scotland, you cannot get Cold Weather Payments though you might get an annual Winter Heating Payment instead.
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December. You do not need to claim - you should get paid automatically. All benefits, pensions and allowances are normally paid into an account, such as your bank account.
To get a Christmas Bonus you must be present or "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. You must also get at least one of the qualifying benefits, including Adult Disability Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment, Child Disability Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance, Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate, Industrial Death Benefit, Mobility Supplement, Pension Age Disability Payment, Pension Credit - the guarantee element, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA), Severe Disablement Allowance, State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit), Unemployability Supplement or Allowance, War Disablement Pension at State Pension age, War Widow's Pension, Widowed Mother's Allowance, Widowed Parent's Allowance, or Widow's Pension.
If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not receive a Christmas Bonus.
