The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed when people will start receiving their Winter Fuel Payment this year. Eligible pensioners will receive payments of between £100 and £300 this winter to help pay for heating bills in the colder months.
Payment schedule and letters
The DWP will send out letters from October to anyone who is eligible for a payment, outlining how much they will get. The payments will then be made into bank accounts during November and December for most people, the DWP has confirmed.
Eligibility extends to pensioners born on or before June 27, 1960, and those who qualify for the support will see the money deposited directly into their accounts, requiring no action from most recipients.
Eligibility and payment amounts
You should receive a letter from the DWP telling you how much you will get and which bank account it will be paid into - this is 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 January 27 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre."
Those who have an annual income above £35,000 will have to pay it back. If you are not eligible for the money, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back by either changing your tax code or adding the amount to your Self Assessment tax return.
You will not be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment 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.
- were in prison for the whole of the week of 21 to 27 September, 2026.
If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for Winter Fuel Payment, you will get either:
- £200 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960.
- £300 if you were born before September 28, 1946.
Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:
- Pension Credit.
- Universal Credit.
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
If you do not get any of the benefits, you will get a payment of:
- £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960.
- £100 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960 but the person you live with was born before September 28, 1946.
- £200 if you were born before September 28, 1946 but the person you live with was born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960.
- £150 if you and the person you live with were both born before September 28, 1946.
How to opt out
To avoid the hassle of paying the money back, the DWP allows those who do not want to receive the payment in the first place to opt out of getting it. People wishing to opt out can do so in one of three ways:
- If you get a State Pension you can use the Manage your State Pension service on the gov.uk website before 11:59pm on September 20, 2026.
- You can complete the opt out form on the gov.uk website before 11:59pm on September 20, 2026.
- You can call the government helpline on 08007310160 before 6pm on September 18, 2026.
The DWP states: "If you do not opt out and your total income is over £35,000, you will receive the Winter Fuel Payment but HMRC will take it back. You cannot return it yourself." You’ll need to provide your National Insurance number when you use the online form or call the helpline.
Once you have opted out of getting the payment, you will not get it in future years either, unless you opt in again. You can opt in again by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. Last year, it was estimated that around two million people would have to hand back their payment due to their annual income being more than £35,000. For a typical Winter Fuel Payment of £200, PAYE customers with income more than £35,000 pay around £17 per month extra in tax during the 2026-27 tax year to recover their payment, according to HMRC.
