The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax free payment of £100 to £300 to help older people with heating bills. For winter 2026/27 almost every pensioner in England, Wales and Northern Ireland gets it again, but if your income is over £35,000 HMRC takes it back. Here’s exactly who qualifies, how much you’ll get and when it lands.
What Is the Winter Fuel Payment?
It’s a yearly payment from the Department for Work and Pensions to help with energy costs over the colder months. You don’t need to spend it on heating, it’s just paid straight into the same account as your State Pension or benefits.
Back in 2024 the government limited it to people on Pension Credit and other means tested benefits, which meant around 10 million pensioners lost it. After a big backlash, that was reversed. From winter 2025/26 everyone over State Pension age qualifies again, with a £35,000 income limit instead.
Who Qualifies for the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026/27?
You qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment this winter if:
- you were born on or before 27 June 1960
- you usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
- you lived in the UK during the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026
Your situation during that qualifying week decides how much you get, so if you moved in with a partner or into a care home after it, that doesn’t change this year’s payment.
How Much Is the Winter Fuel Payment?
The amount depends on your age, who you live with and whether you get certain benefits like Pension Credit. Here are the 2026/27 rates if you don’t get a qualifying benefit.
| Your situation | Born 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960 | Born before 28 Sep 1946 |
|---|---|---|
| You live alone | £200 | £300 |
| You live with someone else who qualifies | £100 | £150, or £200 if they were born after 27 Sep 1946 |
| You live in a care home | £100 | £150 |
If you get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income related ESA, you get the full £200 or £300 even if you share your home, unless you live in a care home. If you claim jointly with a partner, one of you gets the payment for both of you.
The £35,000 Income Limit Explained
This is the big change from the old system. Everyone eligible is paid, but if your taxable income for the 2026/27 tax year is over £35,000, HMRC claws the full amount back. There’s no taper, so earning £35,001 means you repay all of it.
Only your own income counts, not your partner’s. Taxable income includes your State Pension, any private or workplace pension, earnings, rental profits and savings interest above your tax free allowances.
How the Money Is Taken Back
1. If you pay tax through PAYE, HMRC usually changes your tax code so a little extra comes off your pension each month.
2. If you fill in a Self Assessment tax return, the payment is added to your tax bill.
3. If you use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, HMRC will write to you with instructions, so wait for the letter rather than trying to pay it yourself.
If you know you’ll be over the limit you could opt out, but the deadline for this winter was 20 September 2026. You can opt back in before 31 March 2027 if your circumstances change.
When Is the Winter Fuel Payment Paid?
Letters go out in October and November explaining how much you’ll get. Most people are paid in November or December 2026. If nothing has arrived by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Do You Need to Claim?
Most people don’t. If you get the State Pension or a qualifying benefit, the payment is made automatically. You only need to claim if you’ve never had it before and don’t get State Pension or benefits, or if you’ve deferred your State Pension.
Claims for this winter opened on 21 September 2026. If you’re claiming for the first time, do it sooner rather than later so you’re paid alongside everyone else.
What About Scotland?
The Winter Fuel Payment isn’t paid in Scotland anymore. Instead, Scottish pensioners get the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from Social Security Scotland. It works in a similar way, with a higher rate for people aged 80 and over, so check their site for this winter’s amounts.
Other Help With Heating Bills
The Winter Fuel Payment is just one piece of the puzzle. If you’re on a low income, check whether you can get Pension Credit, because it unlocks the full payment plus Cold Weather Payments, help with council tax and a free TV licence if you’re over 75. Our guide to what you can claim in 2026 covers the main benefits.
It’s also worth checking how much the State Pension is going up next April, and using our free budget planner to plan for higher winter bills.
Winter Fuel Payment FAQs
Is the Winter Fuel Payment Taxable?
No, the payment itself isn’t taxed and doesn’t affect your other benefits. The only catch is the clawback if your income is over £35,000.
Can I Get It If I Live Abroad?
Only in limited cases. You need to live in Switzerland or an EEA country, have a genuine link to the UK such as having lived or worked here, and not live in one of the warmer countries that are excluded. People living in Spain, Portugal, France, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Greece and Malta can’t get it.
What If I Turn State Pension Age After the Qualifying Week?
You need to be born on or before 27 June 1960 to qualify for winter 2026/27. If you were born after that, you’ll be eligible next winter instead.
This article is part of our Saving and Budgeting Guide, where you will find every related article in one place.