The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that millions of people born on or before June 27, 1960, will receive between £100 and £300 to help cover higher heating bills during the colder months. Winter Fuel Payments will be issued automatically to an estimated 9 million pensioners in November and December.
Online guidance on GOV.UK states that letters will be issued during October and November informing pensioners of the amount they can expect to receive. The qualifying period for the payment, which is determined by age and household circumstances, ran from September 21 to September 27, 2026.
Scottish Pensioners: PAWHP Replaces Winter Fuel Payment
Older people in Scotland will not receive a Winter Fuel Payment, as it has been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP). The qualifying week for PAWHP also ran from September 21 to September 27, 2026.
To be eligible for PAWHP, you must have been born on or before June 27, 1960, and lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week. Payments will start landing in bank accounts automatically from the end of November and continue throughout the winter. Full details can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.
PAWHP Payment Rates by Age and Household
PAWHP amounts are set at: £105.55 for pensioners in residential care; £211.15 for single pensioners aged between 66 and 79; £316.70 for single pensioners aged 80 and over; £105.55 for pensioner couples aged between 66 and 79; and £158.35 for pensioner couples aged 80 and over. An online eligibility checker has also been launched to help pensioners find out how much they could receive.
Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before June 27, 1960, and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. You will not be eligible if you usually live outside England and Wales, were in hospital getting 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 that week.
If you live in a care home, you can get the payment, but you will not be eligible if you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and you lived in a care home for the whole time from June 28, 2026 or earlier.
Payment Amounts and How to Claim
DWP guidance explains: “You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible. If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.” The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between September 21 to 27, 2026, known as the ‘qualifying week’.
DWP is also reminding pensioners that “any money you get will not affect your other benefits”. If your annual income is over £35,000, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will take the payment back by changing your tax code or adding the amount to your Self Assessment tax return. The deadline to opt out of this year's payments has passed.
If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible, 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 ESA.
If you do not get any of those benefits, you will get £100 if both you and the person you live with were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960; £100 if you were born in that period but the other person was born before September 28, 1946; £200 if you were born before September 28, 1946 but the other person was born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960; or £150 if both of you were 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’ll 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 will get £100 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £150 if you were born before September 28, 1946.
Most payments will be made automatically in November or December. You should get a letter telling you how much you will get and which bank account it will be paid into, usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits. DWP added: “If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”
