Winter Fuel Payment for 2026/27: who can get it
The Winter Fuel Payment, often called the winter fuel allowance, is a benefit to help with heating costs during the colder months. For winter 2026/27 the payment is available to people who were born on or before 27 June 1960 and who normally live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Scotland runs a separate scheme, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland.
Age and residence requirements
To qualify you must have been born on or before 27 June 1960. Your usual residence during the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026 must be in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Simply visiting those regions during that week does not make you eligible if you normally live elsewhere.
How much you could receive
The amount you receive depends on your birth date, who you lived with during the qualifying week and whether you receive certain income‑related benefits. The standard ranges are:
- If you live alone (or nobody else in your household qualifies) and were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, you receive £200.
- If you live alone and were born before 28 September 1946, you receive £300.
- If you share a home with another eligible person and both were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, each gets £100.
- If one person was born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 and the other before 28 September 1946, the younger receives £100 and the older £200.
- If both were born before 28 September 1946, each receives £150.
If you or your partner jointly claim Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income‑related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment is £200 for each person when both are in the younger birth‑date band, or £300 for each when one or both were born before 28 September 1946. For a single claimant receiving one of those benefits, the amount is £200 or £300 according to your own birth date.
Income threshold and recovery
Your individual income is checked against a £35,000 threshold. If your own income exceeds £35,000, HMRC will recover the full Winter Fuel Payment through your tax code or Self Assessment bill. The threshold applies to each person separately; your partner’s income is not added to yours. At exactly £35,000 you have not exceeded the limit, but any amount above it triggers full recovery.
When and how to claim
Most eligible people receive the payment automatically, usually in November or December 2026. You do not need to claim if you already receive the State Pension, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment. You will need to make a claim only if:
- You have never received a Winter Fuel Payment before, or
- You have deferred your State Pension since your last payment.
For winter 2026/27 the claim routes opened as follows:
- Postal claims: 21 September 2026
- Telephone claims: 19 October 2026
The deadline for submitting a claim is 31 March 2027. If you have not received a payment letter or the money by 27 January 2027, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Special situations (care homes, hospital, imprisonment)
Living in a care home does not automatically disqualify you. You will not qualify only if both of the following apply:
- You receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income‑related Employment and Support Allowance, and
- You have lived continuously in a care home from 29 June 2026 or earlier.
Eligible care‑home residents receive £100 if born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, or £150 if born before 28 September 1946.
Other exclusions include long stays in hospital receiving free treatment, imprisonment throughout the qualifying week, residence outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and immigration conditions that restrict access to public funds.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland does not use the Winter Fuel Payment. Instead, residents may be eligible for the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment paid by Social Security Scotland, with payments starting in November 2026 and continuing through winter.
In Northern Ireland the Winter Fuel Payment remains available. Eligibility, payment amounts and claim details are provided on the nidirect website.
Opt‑out and recovery
The opt‑out window for winter 2026/27 has closed. If you receive the payment and your individual income is above £35,000, HMRC will recover it through the tax system. There is no option to voluntarily decline the payment for this year.
Checklist to confirm eligibility
Use this quick list to see whether you are likely to receive the Winter Fuel Payment for 2026/27:
- Verify your date of birth – you must be born on or before 27 June 1960.
- Confirm you usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland (Scotland has a separate scheme).
- Consider who you shared a home with during 21 to 27 September 2026, as this affects the amount.
- Check your individual income – if it is over £35,000 the payment will be recovered.
- Determine whether you need to claim – only if you have never received the payment before or you have deferred your State Pension.
- Look for your payment letter in October or November; if nothing arrives by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Following these steps will help you avoid surprises and ensure you receive any winter heating support to which you are entitled.
