The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has opened applications for this year's Winter Fuel Payment for people who will not receive the money automatically. Postal and telephone claims for the 2026/27 payment will remain open until March 31, 2027.
Most eligible pensioners do not need to make a claim and should receive their payment automatically. However, the DWP is urging people to check the rules to make sure they do not miss out.
Who Receives the Payment Automatically?
Winter Fuel Payments are worth between £100 and £300 and are available to eligible people who were born on or before June 27, 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It's important to be aware that pensioners in Scotland now receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and not a Winter Fuel Payment.
The amount of Winter Fuel Payment someone receives depends on their age and circumstances during the qualifying week, which ran from September 21 to 27. The new DWP application form also confirms that people who need to apply must have reached State Pension age before or during the qualifying week.
According to the latest guidance on GOV.UK, people do not need to make a claim if they are eligible and receive any of the following: State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, PIP, Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, awards from the War Pensions Scheme, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, or Industrial Death Benefit. These groups should receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they meet the eligibility rules.
Who Needs to Make a Claim?
People who do not receive any of the benefits or payments listed above may need to apply. The DWP says a claim is required if someone does not receive any of those payments and either has not received a Winter Fuel Payment before or has deferred their State Pension since their last Winter Fuel Payment.
The official application form states that most eligible people will receive the money automatically and that the form should only be completed if the DWP has asked someone to do so, or they receive no DWP benefit or pension but have reached State Pension age and want to claim Winter Fuel Payment. The form asks for details including the applicant's National Insurance number, date of birth, address and bank or building society details, plus at least one telephone number.
The deadline to make a claim is March 31, 2027.
Payment Amounts and Tax Recovery
Eligible people can receive between £100 and £300. Someone living alone, or living with nobody else who qualifies, will receive £200 if they were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, or £300 if they were born before September 28, 1946. Different amounts can apply where eligible people live together - full details can be found on GOV.UK.
Most eligible people will receive a letter in October or November telling them how much they will get, with payments generally made during November or December. People with total annual income above £35,000 can still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, but HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will recover the full amount through the tax system. An individual's partner's income does not count towards their £35,000 threshold.
