Could You Miss Up To £300? Winter Fuel Payment Claims Are Open

Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment that helps older people with winter heating costs, and most eligible people receive it automatically. If you were born on or before the 27th of June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may qualify for between £100 and £300 this winter.

Some people still need to make a Winter Fuel Payment claim, and postal applications are now open, with phone claims starting on the 19th of October.

Who can get the Winter Fuel Payment?

You can usually qualify if you were born on or before the 27th of June 1960 and normally live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Your circumstances during the qualifying week, the 21st to the 27th of September, determine eligibility and how much you receive. Scotland has a separate Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, so the rules in this guide don’t apply there.

The Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules exclude people who were in prison throughout the qualifying week, or receiving free hospital treatment throughout that week and the previous year. You also won’t qualify if your immigration permission prevents you from claiming public funds.

Visiting England, Wales or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week doesn’t qualify you if you usually live elsewhere.

Living in a care home doesn’t automatically rule you out. You won’t qualify if you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance and have lived in a care home continuously from the 29th of June or earlier through the qualifying week. Both conditions must apply; if you’re unsure how a recent move affects you, contact the payment centre before assuming you’re excluded.

Do you need to make a Winter Fuel Payment claim?

You don’t need to claim if you’re eligible and receive State Pension or one of the payments that trigger an automatic Winter Fuel Payment. These include Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Carer’s Allowance, with other benefits included in the full list. If you don’t receive any of the listed payments, you need to claim if you’ve never received Winter Fuel Payment before or have deferred your State Pension since your last payment.

Postal claims opened on the 21st of September, and you can download the Winter Fuel Payment claim form, complete it and send it to Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR. Phone claims open on the 19th of October, with the centre’s helpline available on 0800 731 0160, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

The claim deadline for winter 2026 to 2027 is the 31st of March 2027, whichever route you use.

How much Winter Fuel Payment could you get?

Your date of birth and household circumstances during the qualifying week determine your payment. If you live alone, or nobody you live with is eligible, you’ll receive £200 or £300 depending on your age. Eligible care-home residents receive a smaller payment, as shown below.

If you live with another eligible person, your payment depends on both your ages and whether you receive certain benefits. The full household payment tables cover shared homes, joint benefit claims and people receiving benefits in their own name, so don’t assume every pensioner in a couple gets £200 or £300 each. The payment won’t reduce your other benefits.

What happens if your income is over £35,000?

If your own income exceeds the £35,000 threshold, HMRC recovers the full Winter Fuel Payment you receive. Your partner’s income isn’t added to yours, so this is an individual test rather than a household limit. Use the official income and repayment guidance to check which income counts; the threshold isn’t based simply on the pension money reaching your bank account each month.

HMRC usually collects the payment through your tax code, meaning more tax is deducted from your pension or wages; if you complete a Self Assessment return, it’s normally collected through your tax bill.

The opt-out window for this winter has closed, so you may still receive a payment that HMRC will later recover. If you expect to be over the threshold, allow for that repayment before treating the money as extra spending money.

When should the money arrive?

Most automatic payments arrive in November or December, with a letter in October or November telling you how much you’ll get and which account will receive it. If no letter arrives and you think you qualify, check whether you need to claim instead of assuming you’re already on the payment list. If you still haven’t received a letter or the money by the 27th of January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

If you’re helping an older relative, start by checking whether they receive State Pension or another payment on the automatic-payment list. Where a claim is needed, help them complete the postal form or put the 19th of October in the diary for a phone application. Keep a copy of the form and a note of when it was sent, so there’s a record if you need to chase it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to claim Winter Fuel Payment?

Most eligible people receive Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they get State Pension or another listed benefit. If you don’t receive any of those payments, you need to claim if you’ve never received Winter Fuel Payment before or have deferred your State Pension since your last payment. Check the official list before completing a claim.

When can I claim Winter Fuel Payment?

Postal claims opened on the 21st of September 2026. Phone claims open on the 19th of October 2026. The deadline for winter 2026 to 2027 claims is the 31st of March 2027.

How much is Winter Fuel Payment?

Winter Fuel Payment is worth between £100 and £300 depending on your age and household circumstances during the qualifying week. Eligible people living alone receive £200 or £300 depending on their date of birth. Shared households and care homes have different payment rules.

What happens if I earn more than £35,000?

HMRC recovers your full Winter Fuel Payment if your own income exceeds the £35,000 threshold. Your partner’s income doesn’t count towards your limit. Recovery usually happens through your tax code or Self Assessment tax bill.

Does Scotland get Winter Fuel Payment?

People living in Scotland can’t receive Winter Fuel Payment. Scotland has a separate Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. Check the Scottish scheme’s eligibility rules if you live there.