A yearly payment of £100 to £300 to help older people pay heating bills, paid automatically to most people born on or before 27 June 1960.
Many people who are entitled to support never claim it. Check who qualifies, how much you could get and how to make your claim through the official channel.
The rules depend on where you live in the UK and on your household’s circumstances.
What Winter Fuel Payment offers
- Automatic: Most people get it without needing to claim.
- Letter confirms amount: You receive a letter in October or November saying how much you will get.
- Tax-free: The payment does not affect your other benefits.
- Opt out: You can choose not to receive it if your income is over the threshold.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who can get it | People born on or before 27 June 1960 for winter 2026 to 2027 |
| How much | Between £100 and £300, depending on age and circumstances |
| Income over £35,000 | HMRC will take the payment back if your total income is over £35,000 |
| How it's paid | Automatically, mostly in November or December 2026 |
| Where | England and Wales (Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in Scotland) |
Key points
Automatic: Most people get it without needing to claim.
Letter confirms amount: You receive a letter in October or November saying how much you will get.
Tax-free: The payment does not affect your other benefits.
About Department for Work and Pensions
Winter Fuel Payment is run by Department for Work and Pensions. Claims are made free of charge through the official government channel.
We explain the rules independently and then send you to the official page to claim. We are not a government website.
Amounts and rules can change. The decision on your claim is made by Department for Work and Pensions.