More than 10 million people across the UK could be paid up to £300 during the colder months to help with energy bills for the 2026-27 winter. This week is 'qualifying week', when the Department for Work and Pensions assesses whether claimants are eligible for the upcoming winter fuel payment scheme.
Eligibility is based on a claimant's circumstances during the week from September 21 to September 27. Claimants must have reached state pension age before or during qualifying week, meaning they were born on or before June 27, 1960.
Automatic payment and repayment rules
The benefit is received automatically. Those with an income in excess of £35,000 will be asked to return the payment to the tax authority. HMRC will reclaim the winter fuel payment by either changing the tax code or adding the amount to a self-assessment tax return.
This spring, HMRC requested 1.3 million people to pay back the benefit after they received it without being eligible.
Who is eligible and who is not
Eligible claimants will receive a letter in October or November telling them how much they will get, between £100 and £300. Claimants must be living in Wales, England, or Northern Ireland during qualifying week.
Claimants are not eligible if they fall into one of five groups: living outside England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; being in hospital receiving free treatment for the whole of the week of September 21 to 27, 2026, and the year before; needing permission to enter the UK with granted leave stating they cannot claim public funds; being in prison for the whole of the week of September 21 to 27, 2026; or receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and living in a care home for the whole time from June 23, 2025, or earlier. Those subject to immigration control cannot claim a winter fuel payment, and any claims will be disallowed.
Payment amounts by circumstances
For those living alone or with no one eligible for the payment, the amount is £200 for those born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960, or £300 for those born before September 28, 1946.
For those living with someone else who is eligible, payment amounts vary if the claimant receives Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related ESA. Without those benefits, payments are: £100 if both were born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960; £100 if the claimant was born between those dates but the other person was born before September 28, 1946; £200 if the claimant was born before September 28, 1946, but the other person was born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960; and £150 if both were born before September 28, 1946.
For joint claims on any of the benefits, one payment goes into the same bank account as the benefits, either £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. For those receiving benefits, the payment is £200 for those born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960, or £300 for those born before September 28, 1946. For care home residents eligible for the payment, the amount is £100 for those born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960, or £150 for those born before September 28, 1946.
